Senior Principal Engineer - High-speed PIC Development

NOKIA
US Salary Range 179200$ - 332800$
United States, California, Sunnyvale
1322 Bordeaux Drive (Show on map)
May 01, 2026
Technical leadership role focused on the architecture, design, and execution of next-generation optical engines. This individual contributor position combines deep technical expertise in RF and high speed device design with the strategic oversight of PIC development processes and product roadmaps. The candidate will work within the PIC design and engineering team, alongside a group of strong individual contributors, on simulation, data analysis and product development leveraging reliable design concepts. Responsibilities will include guiding the performance verification and optimization of the devices and contributing towards the transfer to manufacturing of PIC products NION2026 Technical Lead: Drive the design and test strategy for high-performance InP based 200Gbaud+ modulators and photodetectors within Nokia's optical engine portfolio. RF Design & Signal Integrity: Lead RF design for Coherent and IMDD PICs, collaborating closely with assembly teams to optimize signal integrity and mitigate crosstalk. Device Physics and Epi Design: Apply semiconductor physics expertise to optimize device structures, focusing performance metrics (e.g., Vpi, extinction ratio, leakage, and responsivity) to ensure robust fundamental operation. Design Methodology: Establish and execute rigorous PIC design methodologies and fabrication, test processes to ensure scalable, high-quality hardware delivery. Test Strategy & Execution: Partner with test engineering to develop and implement comprehensive test strategies for both R&D development and production environments. Fabrication Interface: Partner with internal teams to define, troubleshoot, and optimize the PIC fabrication process, ensuring alignment between design requirements and process capabilities. Technical Problem Solving: Independently resolve complex organizational and technical bottlenecks to keep development cycles on track. Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and leadership to scale the team's collective capabilities in support of optical engine development. MS/PhD in engineering, 10+ years' experience in telecommunications, optoelectronics, or microelectronics development with significant time in management role Significant experience with optical component design for performance, especially for InP devices Familiarity with InP opto-electronic fabrication, material characterization and epitaxy knowledge experience with product development is highly desired. The Job will require frequent collaborative interaction with fab, epitaxy, test and reliability engineering, packaging, product engineering, and system engineering groups Strong leadership and communication and engineering and project management skills Experienced in leading a diverse team of strong Individual contributors Technical depth to understand concerns and communicate status and resolution to executive leadership team Ability to evaluate candidates, mentor and develop the team NION2026 Advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world. Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile and transport networks, powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we're advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world. Learn more about life at Nokia. Our recruitment process We act inclusively and respect the uniqueness of people. Our employment decisions are made regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to a culture of inclusion built upon our core value of respect. If you're interested in this role but don't meet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enrich our teams, and you may be just the right candidate for this or another opportunity. The length of the recruitment process may vary depending on the specific role's requirements. We strive to ensure a smooth and inclusive experience for all candidates. Discover more about the recruitment process at Nokia.