Optics Team Lead

Teramount is an innovative and fast-growing startup in the field of silicon photonics that solves a major obstacle for the next-generation data center co-packaged switches.

About the Job

We’re hiring a senior electro-optics engineer to lead our optics team and shape the next generation of Teramount’s optical and photonic solutions. This role sits at the center of our R&D engine: you will architect optical designs, define fabrication and assembly tolerances, and guide the technical roadmap from concept to high-quality, manufacturable products.

Beyond technical leadership, the role requires clear thinking about trade-offs, frequent collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and the ability to turn experimental data into decisions that influence both product direction and production readiness.

What You Will Be Doing

• Lead optical design & simulations for Teramount’s packaging and coupling solutions, including geometric and physical optics modeling.
• Analyze fabricated optics to identify deviations, troubleshoot fabrication challenges, and verify compliance with design requirements.
• Predict yield and define tolerances—optical, mechanical, and process-related—to improve manufacturability and reliability.
• Plan and supervise lab experiments, ensure data integrity, troubleshoot measurement pitfalls, and translate findings into practical design or process changes.
• Collaborate across R&D (mechanics, process, electronics, system) to define targets, milestones, and long-term optical development goals.
• Engage with external vendors and service providers, aligning on specifications, capabilities, and quality.
• Communicate insights through clear presentations to internal teams, management, and partners.

What We Need to See

• MSc or PhD in Electro-Optics, Applied Physics, or related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on electro-optics development experience.
• Strong understanding of optical systems, including geometric and physical optics.
• Ability to independently build and run optical simulations and analytical tools.
• Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for modeling, scripting, and data analysis.
• Experience working in an electro-optics or photonics lab environment.
• Strong analytical mindset and troubleshooting abilities.
• Experience with optical simulation tools (Zemax, Lumerical, or equivalents).
• High-level mathematical and analytical skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent English communication skills.

Ways to Stand Out

• Experience with signal processing or image processing.
• Background in tolerance analysis, yield modeling, and design-for-manufacturing.
• Knowledge of photonic packaging, fiber-to-chip coupling, or semiconductor optics.
• Proven track record mentoring junior engineers or leading small technical groups.
• Familiarity with numerical optimization, automation of simulation workflows, or custom analysis pipelines.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong ownership mindset and comfort navigating complex, ambiguous technical challenges.
• Ability to translate experimental observations into engineering decisions.
• System-level thinking—balancing optical performance, mechanical constraints, process limitations, and manufacturability.
• Curiosity, adaptability, and a drive to continually expand technical capabilities.
• Clear communicator who can articulate trade-offs and challenge assumptions where needed.