Photonics Fabrication Process Engineer (Remote)

About Xanadu:

Xanadu’s mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.

At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. We are creating something that has never been built before. What we are doing is extremely hard, the classic moon shot. Few people in their life will be able to be a part of something like this, where if we are successful, the technologies we develop will solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, and literally change the world. And that is something to be excited about!

Your role and responsibilities:

As an industry leader in photonic quantum computing, Xanadu takes hardware very seriously! In this role, you will work within the Fabrication Process Engineering team to deliver Xanadu’s photonic quantum computing hardware. With your deep technical expertise and experience developing fabrication processes for integrated photonic devices based on electro-optic materials, you will be responsible for developing and optimizing fabrication processes used to build critical components of Xanadu’s quantum computing hardware. Responsibilities include:

• Contribute to the development and optimization of process modules used to build integrated photonic devices from crystalline electro-optic materials, such as thin film lithium niobate
• Independently own and direct wafer lots processed at Xanadu’s foundry partners
• Design and execute fabrication process improvement experiments, including defining fabrication splits, gathering and analyzing inline data, etc.
• Define and execute metrology and failure analysis plans to identify and mitigate failure modes and assess results of process optimization experiments
• Collaborate with internal and external photonics process engineers, process integration engineers and photonics design engineers, including at Xanadu’s foundry partners
• Challenge the state-of-the-art in key performance metrics associated with integrated photonics fabrication
• Stay abreast of new developments in the field of photonics fabrication process development and rapidly implement new learnings and discoveries
• Availability for travel required, expected ≤ 20% travel time

Basic qualifications and experience:

• PhD in physics, materials science, electrical engineering or related field
• Experience with integrated photonics and/or semiconductor fabrication process development, including experience with common process modules and optimization pathways
• Experience etching waveguides from lithium niobate or similar crystalline electro-optic materials
• Familiarity with standard semiconductor and photonics metrology and failure analysis techniques, including at least two of: SEM, TEM, AFM, ellipsometry, XRR/XRD, SIMS, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence
• Experience with data analysis and related software, such as Python, JMP, MATLAB, etc.
• Basic familiarity with passive and active photonic components, such as waveguides, modulators, switches, beamsplitters, resonators, MZIs, etc.
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Demonstrated ability to tackle challenging problems and develop innovative solutions
• Excellent communication skills and strong sense of teamwork

Preferred qualifications and experience:

• ≥ 5 years of experience with integrated photonics fabrication and fabrication process development using electro-optic materials, such as thin film lithium niobate
• Demonstrated track record of achieving low loss in integrated photonic components through fabrication process development
• Experience working in a foundry environment for semiconductor and/or integrated photonics products
• Experience with full product development cycle, from R&D through volume ramping
• Experience in photonic quantum computing hardware development
• Experience coordinating with and managing external partners, including major semiconductor and photonics foundries
• Experience working in fabless companies
• Proficiency in Mandarin

Mission: To build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.

Values: Our values are important. They are fundamental and lay the foundation for culture at Xanadu. Learn more about our values here.

At Xanadu, we are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and equitable culture and fostering an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are committed to meeting the needs of all individuals and support a barrier-free workplace. Should you require accommodations at any point during the recruitment process please contact Recruiting at recruiting@xanadu.ai.

Note: Xanadu will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to recruiting@xanadu.ai.