Senior PIC Systems Engineer

iPronics is seeking a Senior PIC Systems Engineer to join the PIC Architectures team within our Photonics Department, working on large-scale silicon photonics optical circuit switches. This is a system-level role focused on modelling and analysing the optical performance of complete photonic circuits and links, rather than component design or layout. The position is primarily on-site at our Valencia office, with the possibility of flexible remote work. Main Responsibilities As a senior member of the PIC Architectures team, you will lead the system-level modelling and performance analysis of our photonic switch architectures, bridging component data, circuit design and end-to-end link performance. Key responsibilities include: - Building and running system-level simulations of optical links using VPIphotonics (or similar tools) to evaluate signal integrity, BER, OSNR and power penalties. - Modelling and analysing optical crosstalk (coherent and incoherent) in large-scale switch fabrics and quantifying its impact on link performance. - Evaluating the interaction between the optical switch and transceivers (e.g., ER4, FR4, DR4), defining link budgets and system-level requirements. - Correlating simulation results with lab measurements and contributing to system-level test plans. - Developing advanced circuit-level simulations of our photonic integrated circuits, including bidirectional operation, WDM and multiplexing/demultiplexing, to predict insertion loss, optical crosstalk, and wavelength and polarization dependence. - Analyzing thermal crosstalk and other non-idealities (process variations, drift, control errors) and their effect on switch performance and calibration. - Translating system and customer requirements into architecture and component specifications for the design team. - Developing and maintaining Python-based modelling tools and workflows and delivering clear technical reports. Desired Skills & Experience - MSc or PhD in Telecommunication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline, with a focus on optical communications or integrated photonics. - 3+ years of experience in optical system or photonic circuit modelling, in industry or research. - Strong hands-on experience with VPIphotonics or equivalent optical system simulation tools. - Solid understanding of optical communication fundamentals: BER, OSNR, crosstalk penalties, link budgets, transceiver architectures and modulation formats. - Experience with photonic circuit simulation (e.g., Lumerical INTERCONNECT, VPI photonic circuit modules, or Python-based S-matrix solvers). - Proficiency in Python for modelling, data analysis and automation. - Reliable, proactive, and self-motivated, with excellent communication skills and the ability to drive technical decisions independently. - Fluent in English (C1 level or higher). Nice to have - Experience with optical circuit switches, datacenter interconnects, or AI/HPC networking. - Lab experience with high-speed optical test equipment (BERT, OSA) and comparing models with measured data. - Knowledge of control and calibration of large-scale or programmable photonic circuits. - Familiarity with software engineering practices (Git, testing) and HPC environments for large simulation sweeps. What we offer - Permanent full-time position - Flexible working hours - December 24th and 31st off - One extra day off during your birthday month - Private health insurance and life insurance - Pension plan included - Flexible compensation plan (restaurant tickets, transport, and childcare vouchers)