Senior Systems Engineer - Chief Architect

Company Description

APIC Corporation, headquartered in Culver City, CA, specializes in silicon-photonics with over 20 years of groundbreaking research and development. Through its patented Heterogeneously Integrated Photonics and Electronics (HIP-E) technologies, developed with support from DARPA, the Navy, and the Intelligence community, APIC is revolutionizing computing by creating systems that are over 20 times more energy-efficient. Utilizing a cutting-edge approach of replacing traditional copper traces with chip-scale fiber optic links, APIC's technology addresses bandwidth and energy challenges in modern computing. These innovations aim to enable practical AI systems and scalable exa-scale supercomputers while striving for unprecedented efficiency in computing infrastructure.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer & Chief Architect who can operate at the intersection of electro‑optics, semiconductor systems, and advanced computing architectures—and who thrives in high‑stakes, multi‑stakeholder environments. You will work directly with the company's Chief Scientist and CTO. Software engineers and Network/Cloud engineers need not apply.

This is a hands‑on leadership role: you will own the system‑level architecture, flow down requirements from diverse stakeholders, and guide the program from concept through prototype to production. You will be the technical authority ensuring that HIP‑E’s architecture is coherent, compliant, and competitive.

If you are not comfortable making architecture‑level tradeoffs, defending them to senior government and investor audiences, and leading cross‑disciplinary teams under tight schedule and compliance constraints, this is not the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Architectural Leadership – Define and maintain the HIP‑E system architecture, ensuring alignment between photonic, electronic, mechanical, and thermal subsystems.
• Requirements Engineering – Translate mission objectives into verifiable system requirements and specifications; maintain traceability throughout the lifecycle.
• Design Authority – Lead design trade studies, configuration control, and technical baseline management.
• Program Integration – Coordinate across photonics, ASIC, advanced packaging, embedded software, and QA teams to ensure design coherence.
• Lifecycle Management – Develop and manage program schedules, budgets, risk registers, and milestone reviews from concept through transition to a Program of Record.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Interface with DoD program offices, national labs, subcontractors, and commercial partners; present to senior leadership and technical review boards.
• Compliance Oversight – Ensure adherence to ITAR/EAR, NIST SP 800‑171, CMMC, FAR/DFAR, and relevant ISO/AS standards.
• Technical Communication – Deliver high‑impact technical reports, architecture documents, and executive briefings.

Required Qualifications (Non‑negotiable)

• 10 years in systems engineering for complex, multi‑domain systems (electro‑optics, HPC, semiconductor, or defense platforms).
• Proven experience owning system architecture from concept through production.
• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Physics.
• Deep knowledge of mixed‑signal electronics, VLSI/ASIC design, electro‑optics, and advanced IC packaging.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain Secret or higher clearance.
• Demonstrated success in leading cross‑functional engineering teams in regulated environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with avionics, embedded architectures, or weapon‑system integration.
• Former military or DoD acquisition experience.
• Familiarity with photonic interconnects, chiplet architectures, and heterogeneous integration.
• Track record of winning and executing government‑funded R&D programs.

Core Competencies

• Strategic systems engineering & architecture definition
• Cross‑disciplinary technical leadership
• Risk identification, mitigation, and reporting
• Cost, schedule, and performance accountability
• Stakeholder negotiation and conflict resolution
• Quality assurance & process improvement (ISO 9001, AS9100)
• Cybersecurity & export‑control compliance

Why This Role is Different

This is not a “maintenance” engineering position. You will be designing the blueprint for a new class of computing systems—with direct visibility to senior DoD, research, and commercial decision‑makers.

You will be expected to:

• Make architecture‑level decisions with incomplete data
• Defend those decisions to technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Lead a multi‑disciplinary team under aggressive timelines
• Operate in a compliance‑intensive, security‑sensitive environment

If you are looking for a role where you can shape the future of computing and have the credentials to back it up, we want to hear from you.

APIC is an equal‑opportunity employer. We offer a competitive compensation package, comprehensive medical coverage, 401(k) with company match, and the opportunity to work on mission‑critical technology with global impact.

Base Salary:$215k – $265k

Final compensation will be determined by factors such as the candidate's specific skills, depth of experience, and interview performance.