
OpenLight makes it easier for engineers and companies to build high-performance photonic chips by providing a modular silicon photonics platform and related services. The company designs and manufactures Photonic Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (PASICs) that integrate active and passive components—lasers, modulators, amplifiers, and detectors—on a single silicon photonics die, and it supplies a Process Design Kit (PDK), in-house design/build services, and production via licensed foundry partners. OpenLight operates an open foundry/licensing model and offers PASIC design enablement tools (PDK), manufacturing services, and SaaS-like design workflows for semiconductor and photonics design teams. Its technology targets datacom, telecom, LiDAR, healthcare, HPC, AI, and optical computing markets where low-power, high-speed photonic integration is required.

OpenLight makes it easier for engineers and companies to build high-performance photonic chips by providing a modular silicon photonics platform and related services. The company designs and manufactures Photonic Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (PASICs) that integrate active and passive components—lasers, modulators, amplifiers, and detectors—on a single silicon photonics die, and it supplies a Process Design Kit (PDK), in-house design/build services, and production via licensed foundry partners. OpenLight operates an open foundry/licensing model and offers PASIC design enablement tools (PDK), manufacturing services, and SaaS-like design workflows for semiconductor and photonics design teams. Its technology targets datacom, telecom, LiDAR, healthcare, HPC, AI, and optical computing markets where low-power, high-speed photonic integration is required.
What they do: Modular silicon photonics platform for custom Photonic Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (PASICs)
Founded: 2022
Headquarters: Goleta / Santa Barbara area, California
Latest disclosed round: $34M Series A (Aug 26, 2025)
Key markets: Datacom, telecom, AI/datacenter, LiDAR, healthcare, HPC, sensing, optical computing
Scaling heterogeneous integration of active and passive photonic components for low‑power, high‑speed optical systems in datacom, telecom, AI/datacenter, sensing and HPC.
2022
Semiconductor Manufacturing
$34,000,000
Round reported as oversubscribed; other participants include Mayfield, Juniper Networks/Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Lam Capital, New Legacy Ventures, and K2 Access.
Seed funding recorded (Crunchbase) with investor participation including Jeff Crusey.
Seed funding recorded (Crunchbase).
“Backed by strategic investors and industry VCs including Xora Innovation, Capricorn Investment Group, Mayfield, Juniper Networks/HPE, Lam Capital, New Legacy Ventures, K2 Access, and individual investor Jeff Crusey.”
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Company Description
OpenLight is a photonics design company that offers the world’s first open silicon photonics platform with integrated lasers. Our technology is used in Datacom, telecom, LiDAR, healthcare, HPC, AI, and optical computing applications. Our goal is to improve the performance, power efficiency, and reliability of your design using our open and flexible platform. We have over 300 patents and our technology has been adopted by companies across multiple industries enabling new possibilities for photonics engineering.
Why Join Us
Be part of a cutting-edge startup with a strong history of technology innovation. Work alongside a team of talented professionals in the field of silicon photonics – both new and industry veterans. Competitive salary and benefits package and opportunity for career growth and professional development. If you are highly motivated and technically proficient apply today to help shape the future of optical applications. To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience.
This is a hybrid position, the candidate must be able to work from the OpenLight Santa Clara or Goleta, CA office.
Responsibilities
As a member of OpenLight’s Silicon Photonics (SiPh) team, the candidate will be responsible for the development, design, and integration of opto-electronic devices in OpenLight’s heterogenous silicon-IIIV photonic platform. The candidate will lead the design of III-V epitaxial material of in-plan single-frequency lasers and tunable lasers, amplifiers, and other optoelectronic components. The candidate will work with the team on device design, characterization and validation of the fabricated epi and device performance, and building compact models for OpenLight’s open market PDK.
The successful candidate requires a deep knowledge of III-V opto-electronic device theory and a proven track-record in bringing photonic integrated circuit (PIC) based products to market. The candidate will work cross-functionally with PIC architects, RF, process, layout, test and reliability engineers in order to define, design, integrate and validate high-power and high-speed optoelectronic devices using OpenLight’s SiPh technology.
Skills and Preferred Experience