2026 Summer Internship - Photonics Integrated Circuit Designer - PhD (Santa Clara, CA)

We are looking for a Photonics Engineer with a focus on collaborating with the industry's design and foundry partners, and internal design stake owners to establish advanced photonics technology capabilities for next generation optical interconnect. This individual should be interested in supporting and leading programs devoted to the design, development, and applications of Si photonics technology for photonics interconnect in application of hyperscale and AI computing. This person will apply strong understanding of photonics principles and knowledge on integrating devices into a PIC considering system requirements that include both to meet application performance and also to enable practically manufacturable optical module production.

Responsibility

Good level understanding of advanced Si photonics technology, devices such as laser, to explore innovation of new optical devices

Collaborate with multi-disciplinary design teams to ensure the PIC design is well considered and validated to integrate with other critical components, in optical mechanical and module fabrication processes, in hardware circuit and controls etc..

Bring up new photonics features in custom opto-electronic hardware

Perform tests, improve test procedures and analyze data to enable improvements in device performance and product yield

Work closely with teams developing laser, package, photonic, and electronic circuits to ensure product success

Work with system architecture to define photonics interconnect need for hyperscale, AI computing, and network switching / routing system.

Qualifications

PhD degree or working toward PhD in Engineering, Physics, Photonics or related technical field

Experienced in leading the development of Si photonics PIC solutions

Expertise with photonic design tools, such as Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL, RSoft.

Need to have hands on experience on using cadence virtuoso. Should have done tape out with the like of Global Foundry, Tower Jazz or other silicon photonics fab.

Strong knowledge on high speed optoelectronics device design

Good knowledge on CMOS semiconductor process

Good knowledge on semiconductor wafer backend and package ecosystem

Good knowledge on EDA or EPDA tools for PIC design, simulation and tape out process.

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's Degree

Skills

Certifications:

Languages:

Years of Experience:

4 - 7 Years

Work Experience:

Additional Information

Shift:

40-Day Swing (United States of America)

Travel:

Not Specified

Relocation Eligible:

Yes

Referral Payment Plan:

None

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.