{"id":1709762,"url":"https://alion.io/job/zero-point-motion-photonics-design-simulation-engineer","title":"Photonics Design & Simulation Engineer","company":{"id":3798709,"name":"Zero Point Motion","domain":"zeropointmotion.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/zeropointmotion","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Teamtailor","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":9,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"inferred","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"KLayout","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-01-09T15:30:27Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-01-09","last_verified_at":"2026-10-11T02:46:24Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":274,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":273},"description":"At Zero Point Motion, we build photonic integrated circuits that are not just impressive - but production-ready at scale.\nThis role exists to design, simulate, tape-out, and mature PICs (and associated lasers and photodetectors), closing the loop between theory, simulation, and large-scale experimental data.\nThis is not a “paper PIC” role.\nIt is about making photonics inevitable in real products.\nThe Role\nAs a Photonics Design & Simulation Engineer, you own PIC design from first principles through tape-out and data-driven refinement.\nYou will work in a highly automated test environment where data is abundant.\nYour job is to:\ndesign quickly\n\nsimulate intelligently\n\nand update models ruthlessly based on measurement\n\nIteration speed and convergence matter more than elegant one-off designs.\nWhat You’ll Do\nDesign, layout & simulation\nDesign PIC components and circuits from scratch\n\nPerform layout using KLayout (scripted layout strongly preferred)\n\nRun and interpret DRC (foundry specifics can be taught)\n\nSimulate PICs using tools such as:\nLumerical MODE / FDTD / INTERCONNECT\n\nCOMSOL Wave Optics\n\nZemax or equivalent is a bonus\n\nClosing the loop (core responsibility)\nCorrelate simulation results with wafer-scale and lot-scale measurements\n\nUpdate models based on real data, not idealised assumptions\n\nUse justified correction (“fudge”) factors where appropriate\n\nBalance simulation speed versus accuracy deliberately\n\nTreat simulation as a hypothesis generator, not truth\n\nData, automation & coding\nAnalyse large experimental datasets with strong statistical discipline.\n\nWrite substantial Python for:\nanalysis\n\nautomation\n\nmodel validation\n\nreporting\n\nMaintain high standards for design and data versioning, traceability, and reproducibility\n\nProduction mindset\nDesign for yield, fabrication tolerance, and scalability\n\nWork closely with process, metrology, and foundry teams\n\nContribute to faster, more predictable tape-outs\n\nRequired Background\nYou must have:\nDeep experience in PIC design and simulation\n\nCompleted multiple PIC tape-outs (preferably at a known foundry)\n\nPersonally closed the loop between simulation and measurement\n\nExcellent Python coding and data analysis skills\n\nStrong grasp of statistics and variation across wafers and lots\n\nExperience with lasers and photodetectors is strongly preferred.\nWho This Role Is For\nThis role is for:\nDesigners who move fast and iterate\n\nEngineers frustrated by slow, fragile PIC workflows\n\nPeople who believe photonics hasn’t scaled due to execution, not physics\n\nEngineers with high standards and attention to detail\n\nBuilders focused on outcomes, not speculative designs\n\nWhat This Role Is Not\nThis is not:\na theory-only or research-only role\n\na “hero device” design position\n\na simulation-first, measurement-second job\n\na place for spreadsheet- or GUI-only workflows\n\nWhat Success Looks Like\nAfter 6-12 months:\nPIC designs converge faster with fewer surprises\n\nSimulation models are trusted because they reflect reality\n\nComponents are characterised across wafers and across lots\n\nDesigns become measurably more linear, tolerant, and scalable\n\nTape-outs are faster and more predictable\n\nThe organisation trusts photonics data when making decisions\n\nWorking with us\nCompensation: Our framework is built on fairness and transparency, with regular reviews to reflect growth and performance. \n\nBenefits: Share options, pension, and private medical insurance. \n\nCulture: A deep-tech rocketship backed by leading investors. We’re building breakthrough technology with real commercial impact. Pace is high. Standards are higher.\n\nZero Point Motion is determined to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are committed to providing a work environment where there’s a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, and everyone is treated with respect. Equity, diversity and inclusion are central to our mission, and we strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4051,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Health insurance","Stock options"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Optical Communications","Hardware","Sensors & Transducers"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-02T16:47:44Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":6,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.201,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":273,"expected_fill_days":33,"reasons":["conf:3","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/zero-point-motion-photonics-design-simulation-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/zero-point-motion-photonics-design-simulation-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-11T03:52:03Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1957,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":3043,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3798709},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3798709"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fzero-point-motion-photonics-design-simulation-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fzero-point-motion-photonics-design-simulation-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fzero-point-motion-photonics-design-simulation-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/zero-point-motion-photonics-design-simulation-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fzero-point-motion-photonics-design-simulation-engineer"}]}