Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.
Senior Engineer, Photonic Design & Testing
Samsung Semiconductor, Inc., San Jose, California, United States, 95199
Position Title:
Senior Engineer, Photonic Design & Testing
Please Note:
To provide the best candidate experience amidst our high application volumes, each candidate is limited to 10 applications across all open jobs within a 6‑month period.
Advancing the Worlds Technology Together Our technology solutions power the tools you use every day—smartphones, electric vehicles, hyperscale data centers, IoT devices, and so much more. Here, you’ll have an opportunity to be part of a global leader whose innovative designs are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and powering the future.
We believe innovation and growth are driven by an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We’re dedicated to empowering people to be their true selves. Together, we’re building a better tomorrow for our employees, customers, partners, and communities.
About the Sensor Metasolutions Lab The Sensor Metasolutions Lab at Samsung focuses on driving leadership in next‑generation sensors, photonics, and imaging for mobile, wearables, and beyond. Our mission is to redefine the sensor hardware‑software platform, maximizing performance while minimizing form factor and energy consumption through advanced nanotechnology and AI.
We partner closely with sensor pixel, optics, packaging, SoC, and AI/ML engineering teams to tackle the unique challenges of next‑generation optical sensing. This includes inventing new photonic design, rethinking sensor architectures, and developing intelligent algorithms that extract richer and more actionable information at ultra‑low power. At the same time, we explore emerging technologies spanning meta‑optics, novel materials, thermal engineering, sensor‑AI co‑design, and on‑device intelligence. Through continuous R&D, we ensure Samsung’s platforms remain ready for the increasingly complex workloads of vision, health, robotics, and future mobile experiences.
Role Overview This is an exciting and unique opportunity for a talented and hard‑working photonic engineer to envision, prototype, and implement state‑of‑the‑art optical products with a growing team. New hires will be responsible for designing, building, testing, and validating photonic proof‑of‑concept (POC) systems that integrate next‑generation sensors, metasurfaces, nanostructures, and sensing modules.
Location: Daily onsite presence in San Diego, CA in alignment with our Flexible Work policy.
What You’ll Do
Design and develop highly efficient meta‑photonic elements, devices, and systems with machine learning, deep learning, and/or physical models.
Design experiments, perform characterizations, and apply enhancements to our designs and devices.
Develop, implement, debug, evaluate algorithms and processing for real‑time image and optical signal.
Create quick prototypes/modules with 3D printing and proof‑of‑concept demos.
Develop and automate testing procedures (Python/Matlab/LabVIEW), calibration flows, and performance metrics for sensor evaluation.
Assist the team in overall development of optical systems; benchmark system performance models and test evaluation.
Participate in design reviews of optical, optomechanical, and optoelectronic components, equipment, and systems.
Maintain lab documentation and contribute to internal knowledge sharing (Confluence, GitHub, etc.).
Publish research results in top venues and file patents.
What You Bring
Masters with 5+ years or PhDs in Electrical Engineering, Optical Physics or relevant fields.
4+ years of hands‑on experience in optics, photonics, or sensor prototyping and evaluation (academic or industry).
Experience designing and assembling optical test setups, POC modules, and experimental benches.
Experience with automation, scripting, and data logging using Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW.
Experience with Maxwell‑solver (FDTD, FEM), Ray‑tracing (Zemax, LightTools) and/or relevant optical design platform.
Good understanding of nanoscale optics, computational imaging, and optical system modeling.
Basic knowledge of metasurfaces, nanomaterials, CMOS image sensor, and silicon photonics.
Hands‑on experience with 3D printing, rapid prototyping, or hardware integration.
Background in computer vision, signal processing, or deep learning for optical systems.
Familiarity with MATLAB, Python, and deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
#LI-VL1
What We Offer
The pay range below is for all roles at this level across all US locations and functions. Individual pay rates depend on a number of factors including the role’s function and location, as well as the individual’s knowledge, skills, experience, education, and training. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.
Medical/Dental/Vision/401(k) and a broad benefits package centered around the wellbeing of our employees and their loved ones.
A charitable giving match and frequent opportunities to get involved in community support.
Paid time off—4+ weeks per year, plus holidays and sick leave.
Family‑friendly benefits including a stipend for fertility care or adoption, medical travel support, and virtual vet care for pets.
On‑demand apps and free confidential therapy sessions for emotional wellness.
Onsite cafe and gym, plus virtual fitness classes to support a healthy lifestyle.
Flexible work environment to help you find the right balance.
Base Pay Range : $119,200—$178,800 USD
Equal Opportunity Employment Policy Samsung Semiconductor takes pride in being an equal‑opportunity workplace dedicated to fostering an environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to excel, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status.
When selecting team members, we prioritize talent and qualities such as humility, kindness, and dedication. We extend comprehensive accommodations throughout our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long‑term conditions, neurodivergent individuals, or those requiring pregnancy‑related support. All candidates scheduled for an interview will receive guidance on requesting accommodations.
Recruiting Agency Policy We do not accept unsolicited resumes. Only authorized recruitment agencies with a current and valid agreement with Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. are permitted to submit resumes for any job openings.
Applicant AI Use Policy At Samsung Semiconductor, we support innovation and technology. However, to ensure a fair and authentic assessment, we prohibit the use of generative AI tools to misrepresent a candidate’s true skills and qualifications. Permitted uses are limited to basic preparation, grammar, and research, but all submitted content and interview responses must reflect the candidate’s genuine abilities and experience. Violation of this policy may result in immediate disqualification from the hiring process.
Applicant Privacy Policy https://semiconductor.samsung.com/about-us/careers/us/privacy/
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
PI280081740
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Engineer, Photonic Design & Testing
Please Note:
To provide the best candidate experience amidst our high application volumes, each candidate is limited to 10 applications across all open jobs within a 6‑month period.
Advancing the Worlds Technology Together Our technology solutions power the tools you use every day—smartphones, electric vehicles, hyperscale data centers, IoT devices, and so much more. Here, you’ll have an opportunity to be part of a global leader whose innovative designs are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and powering the future.
We believe innovation and growth are driven by an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We’re dedicated to empowering people to be their true selves. Together, we’re building a better tomorrow for our employees, customers, partners, and communities.
About the Sensor Metasolutions Lab The Sensor Metasolutions Lab at Samsung focuses on driving leadership in next‑generation sensors, photonics, and imaging for mobile, wearables, and beyond. Our mission is to redefine the sensor hardware‑software platform, maximizing performance while minimizing form factor and energy consumption through advanced nanotechnology and AI.
We partner closely with sensor pixel, optics, packaging, SoC, and AI/ML engineering teams to tackle the unique challenges of next‑generation optical sensing. This includes inventing new photonic design, rethinking sensor architectures, and developing intelligent algorithms that extract richer and more actionable information at ultra‑low power. At the same time, we explore emerging technologies spanning meta‑optics, novel materials, thermal engineering, sensor‑AI co‑design, and on‑device intelligence. Through continuous R&D, we ensure Samsung’s platforms remain ready for the increasingly complex workloads of vision, health, robotics, and future mobile experiences.
Role Overview This is an exciting and unique opportunity for a talented and hard‑working photonic engineer to envision, prototype, and implement state‑of‑the‑art optical products with a growing team. New hires will be responsible for designing, building, testing, and validating photonic proof‑of‑concept (POC) systems that integrate next‑generation sensors, metasurfaces, nanostructures, and sensing modules.
Location: Daily onsite presence in San Diego, CA in alignment with our Flexible Work policy.
What You’ll Do
Design and develop highly efficient meta‑photonic elements, devices, and systems with machine learning, deep learning, and/or physical models.
Design experiments, perform characterizations, and apply enhancements to our designs and devices.
Develop, implement, debug, evaluate algorithms and processing for real‑time image and optical signal.
Create quick prototypes/modules with 3D printing and proof‑of‑concept demos.
Develop and automate testing procedures (Python/Matlab/LabVIEW), calibration flows, and performance metrics for sensor evaluation.
Assist the team in overall development of optical systems; benchmark system performance models and test evaluation.
Participate in design reviews of optical, optomechanical, and optoelectronic components, equipment, and systems.
Maintain lab documentation and contribute to internal knowledge sharing (Confluence, GitHub, etc.).
Publish research results in top venues and file patents.
What You Bring
Masters with 5+ years or PhDs in Electrical Engineering, Optical Physics or relevant fields.
4+ years of hands‑on experience in optics, photonics, or sensor prototyping and evaluation (academic or industry).
Experience designing and assembling optical test setups, POC modules, and experimental benches.
Experience with automation, scripting, and data logging using Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW.
Experience with Maxwell‑solver (FDTD, FEM), Ray‑tracing (Zemax, LightTools) and/or relevant optical design platform.
Good understanding of nanoscale optics, computational imaging, and optical system modeling.
Basic knowledge of metasurfaces, nanomaterials, CMOS image sensor, and silicon photonics.
Hands‑on experience with 3D printing, rapid prototyping, or hardware integration.
Background in computer vision, signal processing, or deep learning for optical systems.
Familiarity with MATLAB, Python, and deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
#LI-VL1
What We Offer
The pay range below is for all roles at this level across all US locations and functions. Individual pay rates depend on a number of factors including the role’s function and location, as well as the individual’s knowledge, skills, experience, education, and training. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.
Medical/Dental/Vision/401(k) and a broad benefits package centered around the wellbeing of our employees and their loved ones.
A charitable giving match and frequent opportunities to get involved in community support.
Paid time off—4+ weeks per year, plus holidays and sick leave.
Family‑friendly benefits including a stipend for fertility care or adoption, medical travel support, and virtual vet care for pets.
On‑demand apps and free confidential therapy sessions for emotional wellness.
Onsite cafe and gym, plus virtual fitness classes to support a healthy lifestyle.
Flexible work environment to help you find the right balance.
Base Pay Range : $119,200—$178,800 USD
Equal Opportunity Employment Policy Samsung Semiconductor takes pride in being an equal‑opportunity workplace dedicated to fostering an environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to excel, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status.
When selecting team members, we prioritize talent and qualities such as humility, kindness, and dedication. We extend comprehensive accommodations throughout our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long‑term conditions, neurodivergent individuals, or those requiring pregnancy‑related support. All candidates scheduled for an interview will receive guidance on requesting accommodations.
Recruiting Agency Policy We do not accept unsolicited resumes. Only authorized recruitment agencies with a current and valid agreement with Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. are permitted to submit resumes for any job openings.
Applicant AI Use Policy At Samsung Semiconductor, we support innovation and technology. However, to ensure a fair and authentic assessment, we prohibit the use of generative AI tools to misrepresent a candidate’s true skills and qualifications. Permitted uses are limited to basic preparation, grammar, and research, but all submitted content and interview responses must reflect the candidate’s genuine abilities and experience. Violation of this policy may result in immediate disqualification from the hiring process.
Applicant Privacy Policy https://semiconductor.samsung.com/about-us/careers/us/privacy/
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
PI280081740
#J-18808-Ljbffr