Photonics Engineer

Phlux is an award-winning semiconductor start-up based in Sheffield, UK. We have commercialised a breakthrough infrared sensor technology poised to revolutionise advanced driver safety features using LIDAR, ultra-fast low-latency communication networks, and 3D imaging solutions that uncover the invisible.

With over £5M of investment raised to date, Phlux is a revenue-generating company with a team of 18 skilled professionals spanning operations, sales and marketing, engineering, semiconductor devices, and finance. We are now scaling rapidly and seeking passionate individuals to join our innovative team.

The Role:
Phlux has developed a new class of infrared semiconductor chip that is now in production. The successful applicant will join our R&D team as we ramp production of our first product whilst developing our second product range designed for optical communication systems. The second product range operates at high speeds to enable the next generation of optical and free space communication systems. This is an opportunity to work on high performance products for many leading ‘brand name’ Tier 1 customers.

In this role, you will join our R&D team and develop new products for a broad range of applications with the candidate having exposure to the full product lifecycle, from concept development to production. The role will have a focus on the design, fabrication and test of new devices for the next high speed product range with help from our experts. The role would be suited to a Research Associate or an engineer in a semiconductor-related field. The applicant should have excellent organisational and communication skills and be comfortable working independently and with engineers, technicians, marketing, sales, and management.

Typical tasks that the Photonics Engineer may work on include:

• Experimenting with new device designs and fabrication process flows using equipment in our shared cleanroom facility.
• Analysing device data, extracting performance metrics, identifying issues, developing and implementing solutions.
• Liaise with experts in semiconductor design, optics, electronics, testing and operations.
• Work with technical and management teams to develop new products on time and with set budgets.
• Characterise the optical and electrical performance of products against a required specification.
• Prepare reports and lead updates in internal and collaborative project meetings with external partners.
• Preparing presentations, engineering design documentation, white papers and application notes on research and products.

As a fast-growing start-up there will be opportunity for the successful applicant to grow technically and professionally as the company scales. Not the least from opportunities to develop new technical and professional skills but to make an impact and see your work come to life through bringing new disruptive products to market.

Qualification Skills and Experience:

We are looking for candidates that can make a difference from day one. Candidates are likely to have the following qualifications and experience, but what’s most important is an eagerness to learn and develop.

• A PhD or Masters in a related area e.g. Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Physics
• 3 years’ experience working in industry, experience in a startup or fast-paced environment is an advantage.
• Experience fabricating semiconductor devices using common fabrication techniques such as photolithography, dry and wet etching, dielectric and metal deposition as well as analysis tools such as SEM.
• Familiar with optoelectronic device characterisation such as IV, CV, responsivity and bandwidth.
• Good understanding of semiconductor device physics.
• Meticulous in documentation of experimental techniques and storage of device test data.
• Ability to analyse data, produce reports and present them back to the team.
• Provide mentorship and technical leadership for junior engineers, enabling a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Goals:

3 months

• Familiarised with the team and technology.
• Trained to use device characterisation setups in Phlux’s Lab.
• Trained to use fabrication equipment in the University of Sheffield cleanroom facility.
• Fabricated first samples and characterised the devices to assess their performance against target specifications.

6 months

• Developed new processes to optimise device performance.
• Worked with team to develop prototypes APDs for our next product line for customer trials.

12 months

• Able to contribute to problem solving in the device fabrication and test.
• Developed prototype builds for customer test.
• Working with the team to deliver the 2^nd generation of prototypes considering customer feedback

Benefits:

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Share options with tax efficient EMI stock options – Own a part of the company.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holiday.
• 5% employer contribution to pension scheme.
• Relocation package.
• Exciting and dynamic work environment as part of a growing start-up.
• Recruiting referral bonus scheme.

Flexibility:
We work 37.5 hours a week, Monday – Friday. Working hours are flexible.

If you are thinking of taking the next step in your career, then we’d like to hear from you.

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