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Designer Integrated Photonics (f/m/x)

Posted Oct 09, 2026

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ZEISS

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EnglishFluent German (C1+)

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Salary (estimate)

Broad estimate: €44,000–€58,000/year

About this job

Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That’s just what our employees are doing every single day – in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people.

In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long-term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together.

Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.

Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.

Apply now! It takes less than 10 minutes.

Your role

Are you passionate about driving integrated photonic technologies into innovative products? Then, leverage your experience to help us unlock the immense business potential of photonic integrated circuits (PIC) – a market that is growing rapidly due to the demand for AI, faster communication, and novel types of sensors. ZEISS has started a major strategic initiative to establish an interdisciplinary team in a dynamic and agile startup environment. The corporate-backed startup will benefit from ZEISS’s ecosystem and its expertise in the field of photonics. You will play a key role in the design, simulation, and characterization of photonic components and systems. In this exciting opportunity, you will design state-of-the-art photonic integrated circuits and contribute to the realization of complex photonic systems.

Design and simulate integrated photonic components such as waveguides, modulators, detectors, and passive/active optical elements
Develop and optimize photonic integrated circuits using commercial software tools such as Ansys Lumerical and Synopsys
Collaborate with process engineers to define fabrication requirements for photonic devices and ensure seamless integration into production workflows
Work closely with optical packaging teams to ensure proper alignment and performance of optical components
Analyze experimental data and collaborate on the characterization and testing of fabricated devices
Stay updated on the latest advancements in photonic technologies, simulation, materials, and fabrication techniques
Participate in technical discussions and provide guidance on the design, testing, and optimization of photonic devices
Collaborate on the documentation of design processes, including preparing technical reports and design reviews

A master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Photonics, or a related field
2+ years industrial experience in integrated photonics design with a particular emphasis on Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and optical systems
Hands-on experience with photonic design software such as Ansys Lumerical or Synopsys is essential. Familiarity with physical simulation tools like COMSOL is a plus
A deep understanding of photonic principles, including waveguides, interferometers, modulators, and detectors
Knowledge of semiconductor fabrication processes and materials, including silicon photonics, III-V semiconductors, or other photonic platforms
Knowledge of optoelectronic integration and hybrid optical systems is highly valued
Familiarity with layout tools (such as KLayout) and experience in tape-out processes
Experience with the packaging and testing of photonic devices
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset
Very good written and spoken German and English skills

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Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), table; dl-de/by-2-0; StarIn's calculation

Designer Integrated Photonics (f/m/x)

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Product Manager Electron Microscopy (f/m/x) fixed-term for 24 months