Senior Research Engineer - Quantum Photonic Integrated Circuit Design and PDK development

As part of the European Chips Act, Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) is driving innovation in quantum and semiconductor technologies through its Quantum Pilot Lines.

Join our interdisciplinary teams at the interface of design and fabrication and enjoy Villach's exceptional quality of life in the heart of the Austrian Alps.

Be part of something bigger.

Be part of Silicon Austria Labs.

This opportunity is a temporary PostDoc position with an expected duration of 3 years, aligned with the timeframe of the pilot line project.

Continuation in a permanent role may be considered thereafter, subject to strong performance and future funding opportunities.

The Integrated Photonics Technologies (IPT) research unit focuses on emerging photonic device approaches, including integrated photonics for quantum applications.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated researcher to contribute to design and PDK development for aluminum nitride (AlN)-based quantum photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in SAL's R&D cleanroom.

The role bridges research and fabrication pilot line, supporting the development of next-generation PIC for quantum communication, sensing, and metrology.

The successful candidate will contribute to the design workflow for PDK development of AlN quantum PICs, while supporting the process development and fabrication readiness toward high technology readiness levels (TRL).

The candidate will support design, device performance optimization, yield improvement, and quality assurance.

Your future responsibilities will include:

• Designing photonic integrated circuits (passive components and modulators) for quantum applications based on AlN PIC platform
• Contributing to the development and validation of PDK components, including layout, simulation, and basic documentation
• Performing layout design using tools such as KLayout and assisting with design rule checks and GDS generation
• Performing layout manipulation to ensure compatibility with developed process flow
• Characterizing fabricated devices in the lab (optical/electrical testing) and analyzing measurement data
• Suggesting design improvements based on characterization results to enhance device performance and yield
• Supporting the integration of experimental feedback into updated designs and compact models
• Collaborating closely with process and fabrication teams to ensure high design-to-fab fidelity
• Contributing to reporting, documentation, publication, IP generation, and patent application
• Supporting industry and academic collaborations within multidisciplinary projects