Sr. Principal Photonic Process Integration Engineer

Location: Fremont, CA, United States; Hybrid

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical liaison between Coherent and external silicon photonics, silicon CMOS, and advanced packaging foundry partners.
• Coordinate and drive foundry engagements related to process development, process control, manufacturing readiness, and technology qualification.
• Plan, coordinate, and participate in technical and quality audits of external foundry and manufacturing partners to assess process controls, quality systems, manufacturing readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives. 
• Lead root-cause investigations and failure analysis activities in collaboration with foundries, internal reliability teams, and product engineering organizations.
• Track, analyze, and resolve wafer-level, die-level, and module-level yield detractors through systematic data analysis and corrective action implementation.
• Partner with foundries to identify, prioritize, and execute Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) initiatives that improve device performance, yield, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with PIC design teams to identify process sensitivities and implement Design-for-Manufacturing (DFM), Design-for-Yield (DFY), and process robustness improvements.
• Develop process characterization plans and monitor key process metrics, process windows, and critical device parameters across multiple foundry platforms.
• Analyze fabrication, test, and reliability data to identify process trends, excursions, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support new product introductions, technology transfers, process qualifications, and foundry migrations.
• Work closely with reliability, test engineering, and manufacturing teams to establish process control methodologies and monitor long-term process stability.
• Participate in technical reviews with internal stakeholders and external foundry partners and communicate project status, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) resulting from yield excursions, reliability concerns, or customer-return investigations.
• Evaluate foundry process control methodologies, Statistical Process Control (SPC) implementation, excursion management procedures, change control practices, and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) systems. 
• Review foundry process changes, engineering change notices (ECNs), process change notifications (PCNs), and technology updates to assess potential impacts on product performance, yield, reliability, and qualification status. 
• Establish and maintain supplier performance metrics, including yield, defect density, process capability, cycle time, on-time delivery, and quality indicators. 
• Develop and maintain process integration documentation, manufacturing specifications, process control plans, and supplier quality requirements. 

Education & Experience

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related field 
• 10+ years of experience working with semiconductor foundries, photonics processes developments
• Strong understanding of photonics foundry and back-end manufacturing processes
• Experience in qualification of photonic foundry process and PIC products
• Experience with advanced packaging 

Skills

• Strong understanding silicon photonics process integration and device manufacturing
• Yield analysis, SPC, and JMP statistical data analysis
• Failure analysis (FA), root-cause investigation, and CAPA implementation
• Python programming for data analysis, automation, and reporting
• Foundry engagement, supplier quality management, and process audits

Working Conditions

• This position is hybrid
• May require occasional off-site meetings or travel
• Regular use of a computer and other office equipment is necessary
• Interaction with team members and external contacts is a regular part of the job
• May require occasional overtime and flexibility in work hours to accommodate the executive’s needs

Physical Requirements

• Sitting for extended periods while working on a computer or conducting meetings.
• Use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, and handling documents.
• Occasional lifting of objects or materials up to 20 pounds for administrative tasks.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Mobility within the office environment to attend meetings or interact with colleagues.

Safety Requirements

 

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

 

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Us

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!

Note to recruiters and employment agencies: We will not pay for unsolicited resumes from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have required assistance, in writing, for a specific opening.


Job Summary: The Photonics Process Integration Engineer will serve as the primary technical interface between Coherent's Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) design teams and external semiconductor foundries. The successful candidate will drive process integration activities across the product lifecycle, including new technology introduction, yield improvement, failure analysis, process characterization, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role requires close collaboration with design, test, reliability, manufacturing, and foundry partners to ensure robust, scalable, and high-yield photonic products.