Senior Photonics Engineer

Location:

Montreal, Canada Salary:

$80,000 – $120,000 USD Position Type:

Full-Time (Must be a Permanent Resident of Canada; no visa sponsorship available) About the Role

My client, an innovative high-growth hardware startup in Montreal, is looking for a

Senior Photonics Engineer

to serve as a key technical leader across their photonics design and test functions. This is a high-impact, hands-on role for an experienced engineer who brings both deep simulation/design expertise and characterization skills. Reporting into leadership, the ideal candidate will guide photonics architecture, define test protocols, drive intellectual property (patents), and mentor junior engineers in a fast-paced workplace. Key Responsibilities

PIC Architecture & Design:

Lead the design, simulation, and layout of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) building blocks (splitters, filters, resonators, phase modulators) using Lumerical or equivalent tools.

Test & Validation:

Define test specs and characterization procedures for optical components and sensing hardware; evolve the electro-optical test architecture and data pipelines (Python, MATLAB, C++).

IP Generation:

Identify patentable inventions, draft technical disclosures, and support patent filings.

Leadership & Mentorship:

Guide technical trade-offs,



direct component procurement, and mentor junior photonics and test engineers.

Cross-Functional Integration:

Partner closely with hardware and electronics teams to integrate optical and electronic subsystems.

Required Qualifications

Education:

B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics (Optics), or related field (M.Sc. or Ph.D. preferred).

Experience:

5+ years of industry experience in integrated photonics or optoelectronics.

Technical Depth:

Expertise in PIC building blocks, micro-optical resonators, and optical simulation tools (Lumerical, COMSOL).

Hands-On Skills:

Demonstrated experience in assembling, characterizing, and processing signals for fiber-coupled and integrated optical devices.

Innovation Track Record:

Proven history of patents, publications, or key technical product milestones.

Communication:

Clear communication skills with a detail-oriented, meticulous approach to documentation and team guidance.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience writing and filing utility patents (photonics or MEMS).

Background in cleanroom fabrication, MEMS, or motion/inertial sensor technologies.

Experience with photonic CAD layout.

Prior experience thriving in a startup or agile team environment.

📌 Senior Photonics Engineer (Montreal)
🏢 Darwin Recruitment
📍 Montreal