Salary Range: $250,000.00 - $300,000.00

VP R&D Photonic Integrated Circuits / Silicon Photonics

Engaged Search, 250-300k Salary, plus significant early-stage equity

This role is based in a desirable Quebec, Cda location. This is not a remote position. Relocation support and visa sponsorship are available for exceptional candidates.

About RA’s client

Founded in 2015 in Montréal, Canada, RA’s client develops next-generation Photonic Position and Sensing Measurement Instruments that deliver breakthrough performance in precision navigation and motion sensing. Our client’s proprietary Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) technology seeks to combine optical gyroscopes with precision accelerometers in a PIC package to achieve accuracy levels previously possible only with fiber-optic systems—but at a fraction of the size, weight, and cost.

RA’S CLIENT is entering a critical inflection point in financing receiving both significant Series A funding and non-dilutive grants backing rapid R&D acceleration, manufacturing scale, and customer program expansion. The company serves demanding customers in aerospace, defense, tactical UAVs, advanced robotics, and autonomous navigation systems seeking GPS-independent inertial solutions.

The organization comprises world-class specialists in optical device design, photonics simulation, micro-fabrication, characterization, and hardware systems engineering. Our client operates in Montréal—one of the world's strongest optics, photonics, and aerospace ecosystems, with access to leading research centers and a pool of deep technical talent.

Role Overview

The Vice President of Research & Development is a critical and strategic member of the executive team and technical partner to the CEO and the primary technical architect of RA’S client’s photonic device platform. The VP R&D will own the complete R&D roadmap, lead multidisciplinary teams, and drive breakthrough concepts from research through prototypes and field-deployed, mission-critical products.

This is a hands-on, strategic leadership role where your decisions and execution directly impact:

  • Product roadmap for next-generation pic based photonic measurement systems, and the follow on miniaturized generation of systems on a chip.
  • The technical culture by growing a world class engineering and R&D team setting high level engineering standards for a rapidly growing deep-technology organization
  • Company valuation and Series B readiness
  • Market leadership in gps denied navigation environments for aerospace, defense, and autonomous systems

You will report directly to the CEO, lead and grow an engineering and R&D organization with initial direct reports across optical design, micro-fabrication, characterization, and hardware systems engineering, and grow the team as needed. Further this person will work with the board and executive team to translate customer and mission requirements into robust, manufacturable system designs that ship on time and perform to specification in the field.

Deliverables Mandate & Critical Product Milestone Responsibilities

Your primary objective is to lead the R&D organization to deliver two major products on schedule:

  • Next iteration (2027): Full integration of all optical and electronic components on a single photonic chip for customer evaluation and aerospace/defense qualification
  • Follow on iteration (2028): Miniaturization and productization of the 2027 iteration to open application of our technology to new markets (i.e., consumer, other industrial, defense)
  • You will establish stage-gate process and technology development processes and new product introduction process , technical reviews, reliability frameworks, and documentation standards that ensure execution excellence and position client for Series B readiness.

Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Vision

  • Own the R&D roadmap for photonic position sensing and measurement platforms (current , next-2 gens --, and 5–10 year technology / product vision), ensuring alignment with product milestones, customer requirements, and company strategy
  • Drive technical architecture decisions on chip design, system partitioning, sensor fusion algorithms, and integration strategies that define competitive advantage
  • Partner with Commercial and Product leadership to translate customer/mission needs into technical specifications and ensure product roadmap delivers revenue growth
  • Represent our client’s technology credibly in front of customers, partners, investors, and industry forums; serve as a visible technical leader and thought partner to board members and all interested parties
  • Establish technical standards and best practices: stage-gate processes, technical reviews, reliability frameworks, documentation standards, and IP strategy
  • Monitor and synthesize state-of-the-art research in optical on-chip gyroscopes to inform product architecture and competitive positioning

Technical Execution & Product Development

  • Lead chip architecture, design, and fabrication: drive direction and implementation of photonic sensing and accelerometer designs; identify, capture and manage foundry partnerships and wafer processing workflows
  • Manage external vendors and partners: coordinate with design houses, photonics foundries, and test laboratories to ensure deliverables align with roadmap milestones and quality standards
  • Translate requirements into manufacturing reality: convert aerospace, defense, and autonomy requirements into robust, testable, producible designs with formal qualification plans
  • Own test, validation, and qualification: establish and oversee processes for device characterization, board-level testing, system integration, environmental qualification (thermal, vibration, shock), and field validation
  • Drive the next 2 generation deliverables: manage chip integration milestones, foundry partnerships, and customer evaluation kit readiness for product launches

Team Leadership & Organization Building

  • Recruit, lead, grow, mentor, coach and retain the R&D team: currently a number of engineers across photonics design, micro-fabrication, characterization, and hardware systems. Plan for and execute team scaling to 15+ over next 18 months
  • Develop organizational capability: implement formal stage-gate processes, technical review cadence, career development paths, and performance evaluation frameworks
  • Lead by example, fostering a startup mentality: build culture where engineering excellence, pragmatism, and customer focus and successes drive decision-making

Grant Writing & Non-Dilutive Funding

  • Lead grant writing initiatives to secure non-dilutive research funding from federal and provincial agencies and manage grant programs and compliance.
  • With the CEO and Business team help identify and pursue funding opportunities aligned with the R&D and product roadmap and Series B growth objectives

Risk Management & IP Strategy

  • Assess and mitigate technical and operational risks: identify critical technology risks (manufacturing yield, supplier capability, design margin) and develop mitigation strategies
  • Manage intellectual property: lead the patent application process with counsel, protecting core innovations; establish and communicate IP strategy to board of directors and investors and partners
  • Maintain export compliance & security clearance as required: ensure all R&D activities comply with Canadian and international export control regulations (ITAR, EAR) and obtain/maintain necessary security clearances

Candidate Profile Requirements

  • Advanced degree:D. or M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, Electronics, or closely related field
  • Deep photonics device expertise:
    • Strong hands-on background in Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) design, simulation, and architecture
    • Deep knowledge of wafer processing and photonics device manufacturing (cleanroom experience, circuit design, tape out, bring up, process flows, foundry management)
    • Can credibly lead technical discussions on photonic chip design, packaging, test, analysis, characterization, optical system integration, and advanced fabrication
  • Track record of developed and shipped products:
    • 10–15+ years in R&D for sensors, photonics, MEMS, navigation, or adjacent photonics hardware
    • Proven success taking photonic chip devices from lab prototype through the development cycle to product introduction and customer acceptance
  • Executive leadership experience:
    • Minimum 5 years as VP Engineering, VP R&D, Head of R&D, Director of Engineering, or CTO in small-to-medium semiconductor, optoelectronics or photonics device, technology driven company
    • Minimum 5 years working with executive leadership teams and boards of directors (strategic planning, fundraising discussions, board presentations)
    • Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams through rapid growth phases
  • Foundry and vendor management:
    • Experience managing relationships with photonics foundries, design houses, or advanced manufacturing partners
    • Comfort with complex technical procurement, supply chains and vendor technical negotiation
  • Canadian work eligibility:
    • Able to work in Canada and able to work on export-controlled programs (ITAR/EAR context)

Other Important Attributes

  • Communication & decision-making:
    • Clear, direct communication style at all levels (engineering team to board/investors, customers)
    • Comfort operating at multiple altitudes: deep technical design reviews to C-suite strategy
    • Strong analytical skills and sound judgment under uncertainty
  • Leadership style:
    • Hands-on: Personally engaged in critical design /technology decisions; credible to engineering/R&D team
    • Pragmatic: Balanced approach to perfectionism vs. shipping; understands design/ technology tradeoffs
    • Coachable: Open to feedback; willing to embrace client’s technology and culture
    • High standards: Intolerant of poor execution; focused on quality and customer success
  • Startup mentality & cultural fit:
    • Thrive in lean, fast-moving environments with ambiguous problems and tight timelines
    • Motivated by impact and solving difficult technical challenges
    • Comfortable and motivated by equity participation as core component of compensation package
    • Value transparency, accountability, and collaborative problem-solving
  • Integrity and credibility:
    • Demonstrated track record of reliable execution and honest communication
    • Commitment to our client’s corporate mission and ethos and long-term success objectives

Nice-to-Have

  • Prior experience in aerospace, defense, inertial navigation, photonic sensing, or GPS-denied positioning systems
  • Familiarity with drone/autonomous systems market or customer base
  • Patent portfolio in photonics or advanced sensors
  • Experience with military specifications or defense procurement processes
  • Background in hardware startups or venture-backed deep-tech companies
  • Photonics packaging skills and experience with sensor integration and system-level packaging

RA’s client is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.


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