Job Description

Laser Scientist - Semiconductor Lasers & Photonics

Location: California or Remote

We're working with an ambitious, VC backed technology company developing advanced high power semiconductor laser technology.

This is an opportunity for a Laser Scientist to work on some genuinely challenging problems in semiconductor laser physics, helping develop new device architectures and push the performance limits of photonic crystal surface emitting lasers (PCSELs) and other vertical emitting devices.

The focus is on the underlying physics. You'll be expected to work from first principles, extend existing theoretical frameworks and develop new device concepts that improve performance, manufacturability and long-term reliability.

This isn't a role focused on operating simulation software or making incremental changes to established designs. We're looking for someone with the depth in physics and mathematics to understand why a device behaves as it does, challenge existing approaches and develop something fundamentally new.

What you'll be doing

• Develop and extend the theoretical frameworks underpinning PCSELs and other vertical-emitting semiconductor lasers.
• Investigate new device architectures, including hybrid photonic-crystal structures, external cavity designs and injection locking.
• Apply first-principles physics and mathematical modelling to understand and improve device performance, including mode control, gain-cavity interactions, phase and wavelength control, and thermal effects.
• Work closely with modelling, simulation and AI teams, providing the underlying physics, analytical models and assumptions that guide design exploration.
• Challenge simulation results and connect theoretical predictions with experimental measurements.
• Develop device structures that are more robust to manufacturing variation and improve long term reliability.
• Establish and develop reliability testing and diagnostics, including HAST and other accelerated stress testing.
• Work with process, packaging and optics teams to translate device concepts into practical designs and manufacturing requirements.
• Develop physics-based reliability models and identify the root causes of device and package-level issues.
• Document technical findings, develop internal know-how and contribute to invention disclosures.

What we're looking for

• PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline. Equivalent industry experience will also be considered.
• Strong foundations in physics, advanced mathematics, electromagnetics and semiconductor device physics.
• Demonstrated experience in semiconductor laser device design, ideally with PCSELs, VCSELs or other vertical-emitting architectures.
• Ability to work from first principles, read and extend foundational research, and develop original theoretical approaches.
• Strong Python skills for scientific computing and analytical modelling, including NumPy/SciPy and related tools.
• Understanding of PDEs, eigenvalue problems and electromagnetic or semiconductor formulations.
• Experience working across simulation, process engineering, packaging and reliability teams.

Particularly interesting experience

• Photonic crystal lasers and advanced semiconductor laser architectures.
• Hybrid photonic-crystal structures, external cavity lasers and injection locking.
• III-V semiconductor materials, epitaxy and MOCVD.
• Semiconductor laser reliability, HAST and accelerated testing.
• Device diagnostics such as PL, EL, XRD, thermography and lifetime testing.
• Experience developing new device architectures, with a track record of technical publications or invention disclosures.

You'll be joining a highly technical team working to push the limits of semiconductor laser performance. The role offers the opportunity to influence fundamental device architecture, work closely with advanced modelling and AI teams, and take new concepts through to validated, manufacturable hardware.

For someone with a strong background in laser physics who wants to work on genuinely new device technology, this is an opportunity to tackle problems where the existing literature doesn't necessarily have the answers.

**Candidates must be US Persons as defined by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).