Senior PIC Engineer - Homodyne detection

Darwin Recruitment • Full-time • Greater Toronto Area, Canada, CA • 10h ago

Senior Photonics Engineer - Homodyne Detection

About the Opportunity

Join an innovative deep-tech company developing advanced photonic technologies for next-generation computing applications. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of integrated photonics, quantum optics, high-speed optoelectronics and complex experimental systems.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Photonic Engineer to design, develop and experimentally validate advanced photonic systems. You will work with photonic integrated circuits featuring high-speed electro-optic modulators and integrated optical detection technologies, with a particular focus on high-efficiency pulsed optical measurements and the characterization of quantum states of light.

Key Responsibilities

Design, build and upgrade complex optical experiments to characterize photonic integrated chips using continuous-wave and pulsed laser sources.
Characterize and benchmark high-speed integrated optical detectors operating in the hundreds of MHz bandwidth regime.
Develop new optical and electrical characterization strategies to meet evolving system requirements.
Measure key performance metrics including detection efficiency, noise performance, effective bandwidth, common-mode rejection and cross-talk.
Develop and improve signal-processing techniques for pulsed optical detection and advanced optical measurement systems.
Stay current with emerging research and technology trends in quantum optics and photonic measurement.
Implement and maintain optical phase-locking and stabilization systems, including control electronics, PID controllers and precision locking schemes.
Design, troubleshoot and improve optical and electronic control systems for highly stable experimental platforms.
Collaborate closely with PIC, electrical, mechanical and software engineering teams to support successful system and module integration.
Produce detailed technical documentation, including design specifications, test procedures, characterization reports and operational documentation.

Basic Qualifications & Experience

Strong hands-on experience working in experimental optics laboratories.
Knowledge of integrated optics, fibre optics, optical interferometry, stabilization techniques and noise characterization.
Direct experience with optical homodyne detection; experience with pulsed homodyne detection is highly desirable.
Working knowledge of optoelectronic detectors, transimpedance amplifiers, RF electronics and electro-optic modulator concepts.
PhD in Quantum Optics, Photonics, AMO Physics, Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

4+ years of relevant industry or research experience in areas such as quantum technologies, optical computing, integrated photonics or advanced optoelectronic systems.
Experience with thin-film lithium niobate modulators, integrated photodiodes or other high-performance photonic devices.
Strong expertise in pulsed optical detection, quantum optical measurements or characterization of quantum states of light.
Ability to independently design, build and troubleshoot complex optical experiments and clearly communicate technical findings.
Comfortable working with complex and rapidly evolving technical architectures.
Experience using Python for instrument control, hardware interfacing and automated data acquisition.
Strong mathematical modelling and data-analysis skills, using analytical and numerical techniques.
Experience with advanced signal processing methods.
Experience defining optical, electrical and physical interfaces between photonic chips and high-speed electronic components within advanced integrated or co-packaged systems.