Senior Mask Design Engineer (Tape-out)

We are an Indium Phosphide foundry specialized in Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), uniquely combining semiconductor lasers, amplifiers, detectors, and high-speed modulators into state-of-the-art solutions for optical communications, automotive LiDAR, and advanced sensing applications.  

Introduction to Team  

Our Design Enablement team bridges process development, device design, and PIC circuit designers. We provide the tools, methodologies, and services that enable our customers to translate their concepts into manufacturable PICs. As we expand capabilities, we are looking for a Senior Mask Engineer with deep technical expertise and the confidence to operate at the interface of technology and customer needs.  

In this position, you will mainly design and perform from behind your laptop. This requires you to love your PC and be perfectly fine doing mask engineering without too many people bothering you!  

Key Responsibilities  

• Take ownership of layout design, review, and tape-out processes for lithographic masks and reticles. 

• Manage the full mask data preparation flow, including supplier relations.  

• Introduce and maintain automation tools to streamline mask preparation, validation, and ordering processes.  

• Conduct Design Rule Checks (DRC) and ensure compliance with manufacturing rules and create and execute validation cases for DRC rules to enhance verification and automation.  

• Develop and maintain automated layout generation scripts and workflows to improve design efficiency and reduce manual effort.  

• Collaborate with designers, process engineers, and integration teams to enable new developments.  

• Support and drive PDK activities, ensuring optimal usability for internal and external customers.  

• Provide technical guidance and documentation to customers and colleagues.  

• Lead projects with a high-quality mindset and ownership.  

• Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field.  

• 7+ years (post-Master’s) or 5+ years (post-PhD) of experience in a photonics foundry, PIC design house, EDA provider or customer-facing design enablement role.  

• Proven expertise in mask layout, lithography, tape-out processes, and Design Rule Checks (DRC), including rule deck development and validation.  

• Strong experience with Process Design Kit (PDK) development and customer support, ideally gained in a photonics foundry, PIC design house, or EDA supplier.  

• Solid understanding of wafer fabrication flows and foundry-customer interactions, with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex design/process issues.  

• Excellent communication and leadership skills, to influence stakeholders, mentor peers, and drive cross-functional initiatives.  

We offer 

• Work with a talented, international, and dynamic team. 

• A challenging position with plenty of room for own initiatives and professional development; 

• Collaborate with our customers and research centers; 

• Access to training programs such as the Green Belt certification and JePPIX course to support your professional growth. 

• The opportunity to work in High-Tech Campus, the smartest square in Europe!  

• Candidates must be based in the Netherlands or willing to relocate prior to starting. 

If you're passionate about new technologies and want to be part of the photonics revolution, we’d love to hear from you.