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Applications Engineering, Principal Engineer - Photonics

pin icon Zhubei, Taiwan Apply Now
Category Engineering Hire Type Employee Job ID 17154 Date posted 04/30/2026

We Are

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.

You Are

You have spent your career turning cutting-edge photonics research and engineering into real-world results. You thrive on being the go-to technical authority when the stakes are high and the problems are more complex than the datasheet admits. You know your way around silicon photonics, PIC design, and the full tapeout journey—because you have lived it, not just read about it. You bridge the gap between simulation and silicon, and you can spot a modeling pitfall before it becomes a mask error. You are energized by working directly with customers, guiding them through the thorniest technical challenges, and watching their success become your impact. You move seamlessly from hands-on simulation in Lumerical, Rsoft, or Tidy3D to strategic conversations with executives about roadmaps and adoption. You do not shy away from a whiteboard session, a design review, or a tough troubleshooting call. You see mentorship and knowledge sharing as part of your craft, and you want your work to shape both products and people across the photonics community.

What You'll Be Doing

  • Lead technical strategy and engagement for key APAC and global photonics accounts, acting as the primary technical authority in customer interactions.
  • Architect, deploy, and optimize photonics and multiphysics workflows using Ansys/Synopsys tools, integrating solutions into foundry-aligned EDA/EPDA flows.
  • Perform, review, and troubleshoot detailed simulations for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) at both component and system levels, using tools like Lumerical, Rsoft, or Tidy3D.
  • Guide customers through critical milestones—including design iteration, verification, and tapeout—ensuring smooth handoffs and successful outcomes.
  • Collaborate closely with sales and regional leadership to translate technical wins into business adoption and long-term relationships.
  • Provide actionable customer feedback to product teams, influencing the Ansys/Synopsys photonics roadmap and feature priorities.
  • Mentor junior application engineers, contribute to internal knowledge sharing, and represent Synopsys/Ansys at technical forums and industry events.

The Impact You Will Have

  • Accelerate customer adoption of Synopsys/Ansys photonics solutions, directly enabling their next-generation product launches.
  • Help customers avoid costly design errors and reduce tapeout risk by equipping them with robust, validated workflows.
  • Drive real improvements in product usability and features by channeling field experience and customer pain points back to R&D.
  • Strengthen Synopsys’ technical reputation across APAC and globally by delivering expertise that customers rely on for their most challenging projects.
  • Build up the skills and confidence of junior engineers, raising the technical bar across the applications team.
  • Make strategic accounts more successful and loyal, translating deep technical support into tangible business growth.
  • Shape the future of photonics design by acting as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the community.

What You'll Need

  • BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optics, Photonics, Physics, or related field.
  • At least 10 years (BS), 8 years (MS), or 5 years (PhD) of hands-on experience in an engineering software or photonics design environment.
  • Deep, practical expertise in optics and photonics, including direct experience with PIC, silicon photonics, or co-packaged optics (CPO).
  • Full-cycle experience with PIC tapeout, including design, fabrication, and testing.
  • Proficiency with photonics simulation tools such as Lumerical, Rsoft, or Tidy3D.
  • Strong scripting skills in Python, MATLAB, or similar—comfortable automating, analyzing, and troubleshooting workflows.
  • Ability to discuss complex technical topics in English with both internal and external teams, including customer presentations.
  • Experience working with foundry PDKs, compact models, model validation, 3DIC, or multiphysics projects is a plus.
  • Familiarity with numerical methods (FDTD, RCWA, BPM, circuit-level solvers) and EDA/EPDA flows, as well as tools like OptoCompiler, Custom Compiler, 3DIC Compiler, TCAD, SPICE, or Verilog-A, is a differentiator.
  • Publications, patents, technical presentations, or recognized contributions in photonics are valued.

Who You Are

  • You are the person people call when a simulation result does not make sense and the clock is ticking.
  • You can break down a tough design tradeoff for a VP in two sentences, without glossing over the technical nuance.
  • You thrive on direct customer interaction and know that real trust is built by solving hard problems, not just answering tickets.
  • You are comfortable switching from hands-on simulation in the morning to mentoring a junior engineer or presenting at a technical forum in the afternoon.
  • You see the big picture and the fine detail, balancing business goals with technical rigor.
  • You are proactive in sharing what you know and hungry to learn what you do not.

The Team You'll Be Part Of

Your recruiter will share more about the team structure and mission during the interview process.

Rewards and Benefits

We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.

At Synopsys, we want talented people of every background to feel valued and supported to do their best work. Synopsys considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, military veteran status, or disability.

Apply Now

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