Full-Time
Technical Program Manager
Government/Defense
Posted on 11/9/2024
Anello Photonics
51-200 employees
On-chip silicon photonics inertial gyroscopes
No salary listed
Santa Clara, CA, USA
In Person
 Business & Strategy (1) |
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- BS or MS in an Engineering or Technical discipline
- 3 years minimum as a practicing engineer familiar with Production, R&D programs and product development processes
- Experience in GNSS positioning, inertial sensor technology, embedded systems, or sensor-based project engineering
- Experience with DOD and other Government programs
- Background and interest in autonomous applications and vehicles in all segments for Unmanned Aerial, Land, Marine, and Robotics.
- Self-motivated to learn new technologies and a passion for cross-functional interactions
- Technical aptitude, be an excellent communicator, and have no fear of handling and analyzing data
- Excellent writing skills for technical reports, and general program communications
- Work collaboratively with customers and internal teams to gather requirements and execute on a given technical solution, while managing multiple initiatives.
- Gather and document detailed solution requirements and prioritize features based on customer needs and expectations
- Prepare technical project plans (scope and timeline, schedules, budgets, etc.)
- Maintain technical documents and documentation on ANELLO products
- Produce complete and accurate product evaluation reports
- Provide pre-and post-sales product consulting, technical support, and communications to key customers around these specific initiatives.
- Maintain a detailed and expert knowledge of relevant standards, technologies, and specifications, garnered where possible in advance of industry adoption.
- Where needed attend trade shows, conferences, and educational events to support internal and external customers and stay abreast of industry developments
ANELLO Photonics designs and manufactures high-performance inertial navigation sensors. Its flagship product is a Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope that uses an on-chip waveguide manufacturing process to integrate a patented silicon photonic integrated circuit, delivering the accuracy of traditional Fiber Optic Gyroscopes with standard silicon manufacturing methods. The sensors work by guiding light through on-chip waveguides to detect rotation, converting that motion into precise navigation data. Compared with competitors, ANELLO combines the precision of fiber-based gyroscopes with the cost advantages and scalability of silicon photonics, enabling smaller, lighter, and more affordable sensors. The company targets aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial markets and aims to make high-performance navigation sensors accessible across a wider range of applications through compact, versatile products and potential licensing or partnerships with other technology firms.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Series B
Total Funding
$73M
Headquarters
Santa Clara, California
Founded
2018
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- $25M Series B-2 from MESH accelerates SiPhOG production as of May 4, 2026.
- $20M DoD APFIT award scales GPS-denied INS deployment from January 2026.
- Q-CTRL partnership layers quantum magnetic navigation atop SiPhOG for UAVs.
What critics are saying
- Q-CTRL Ironstone Opal fails to bound SiPhOG drift in UAV tests within 6 months.
- Mythos AI software immaturity delays maritime INS by 9 months, missing DoD deadlines.
- Huawei replicates waveguide process, undercuts SiPhOG prices by 50% in 18 months.
What makes Anello Photonics unique
- SiPhOG integrates silicon nitride waveguide with photonic IC for chip-scale FOG performance.
- Patented 3-D bandgap process achieves 400x lower optical loss than CMOS waveguides.
- X3 IMU packs three SiPhOGs with 24 channels in world's smallest 3-axis optical gyro.
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Benefits
Company Equity
Flexible Work Hours
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -1%1 year growth
↓ -1%2 year growth
↑ 0%ANELLO Photonics, a Santa Clara-based creator of silicon photonics optical gyroscopes, has raised $25 million in a Series B-2 round led by MESH. Washington Harbour Partners joined as a new investor, alongside existing backers including Lockheed Martin Ventures, Catapult Ventures and New Legacy Ventures. The company develops high-precision inertial navigation systems that operate independently of GPS, addressing vulnerabilities from jamming and spoofing in defence and commercial sectors. Its SiPhOG platform delivers fibre-optic-class performance in a compact, scalable format for autonomous systems across land, air and sea. The funding will accelerate production and expand deployment of ANELLO's navigation solutions for GPS-denied environments. The company holds over 80 issued or pending patents and operates an AI-based sensor fusion engine.
ANELLO Photonics secures additional $25M to accelerate production of its gps-denied navigation solutions. Santa Clara, CA., May 4, 2026 - ANELLO Photonics, the creator of the Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG(TM) and a leader in solid-state, high-precision inertial navigation systems, today announced it has secured an additional $25 million in a Series B-2 financing round. The oversubscribed round was led by MESH with participation from new investors Washington Harbour Partners alongside existing investors Lockheed Martin Ventures, Catapult Ventures, New Legacy Ventures, One Madison Group, IronGate Capital and Mana Ventures. This additional investment will accelerate ANELLO's expansion and drive broader deployment of resilient navigation solutions for autonomous systems navigating in GPS-denied and contested environments across land, air, and sea. "MESH is excited to invest in ANELLO because they have built a truly differentiated, defensible navigation platform for a world where GPS cannot be assumed. By delivering fiber-gyro class performance in a chip-scale, manufacturable form factor - and pairing it with real traction in mission-critical defense and dual-use markets - ANELLO has the potential to become foundational infrastructure for the next generation of autonomous systems. We believe this is a rare combination of breakthrough technology, execution, and timing," said Tony Fai, Partner at MESH. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including GPS, have become foundational to modern infrastructure across defense and commercial sectors, spanning land, air and sea operations. However, increasing vulnerabilities - including jamming and spoofing - are emerging as critical risks, with disruptions estimated to cost billions globally and impacting both everyday commercial activities and mission-critical systems. ANELLO's silicon photonics-based inertial navigation technology delivers a cost-effective alternative to legacy systems, providing continuous, high-precision positioning independent of external signals. The company brings optical gyroscope performance into deployable navigation systems through advanced photonic integration. Its market-leading SiPhOG(TM) platform delivers fiber-optic-class performance in a compact, scalable form factor, enabling reliable autonomy across land, air and sea in the world's most demanding GPS-denied environments. "Reliable navigation is fundamental to autonomy, safety, and mission assurance and we are excited to have MESH and Washington Harbour Partners as new investors in ANELLO," said Dr. Mario Paniccia, Co-Founder and CEO of ANELLO Photonics. "This additional $25 million in funding will enable us to scale production, accelerate innovation, and deliver resilient navigation capabilities to meet the rising global demand. In addition, it will allow us to deliver more products to more customers operating in increasingly contested and GPS-denied environments." As autonomy reshapes industries and electronic warfare grows more sophisticated, the ability to navigate without GPS is rapidly shifting from advantage to necessity. ANELLO is at the forefront of this transition, delivering a new standard in resilient navigation through its fully integrated, chip-scale approach where fiber-optic-class performance meets SWaP-C efficiency at scale. About ANELLO Photonics ANELLO Photonics is a leading-edge technology company based in Santa Clara, CA. The company has developed the ANELLO SiPhOG(TM)- Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope - based on integrated photonic system-on-chip technology. ANELLO's technology portfolio spans over 80 issued or pending patents, and also includes an AI-based sensor fusion engine. About MESH MESH is an electronics-focused venture capital firm investing in technologies that will enable the next generation of innovation. Through its extensive electronics ecosystem, MESH connects global startups with leading foundries, IC designers, component manufacturers, and ODMs. Their network bridges world-class design and manufacturing capabilities with innovative startups worldwide, significantly reducing time-to-market for groundbreaking technologies. MESH combines deep investment expertise with industry insights to provide a knowledge-driven investment framework, enabling investors to strategically build and manage their technology portfolios. Learn more at https://mesh.vc About Washington Harbour Partners Washington Harbour Partners is an investment firm focused on supporting high-growth companies across strategic sectors. The firm brings deep operational and financial expertise to help scale innovative businesses and drive long-term value creation. Washington Harbour Partners works closely with management teams to accelerate growth and expand market opportunities. ANELLO(R) and SIPHOG(TM) are registered trademarks of ANELLO Photonics.
ANELLO Photonics and Q-CTRL partner to deliver quantum-resilient navigation for uavs. ANELLO Photonics and Q-CTRL have announced a strategic collaboration to develop a multi-layered Quantum Navigation Solution (QNS) designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in GPS-denied or contested environments. This partnership addresses the critical vulnerabilities of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to jamming and spoofing - disruptions that currently impose a $1 billion daily economic impact globally. By providing a resilient alternative to satellite-dependent positioning, the joint effort targets mission-critical autonomous platforms in both the defense and commercial logistics sectors, ensuring operational continuity even when external signals are compromised. The technical architecture represents a world-first integration of silicon photonics-based inertial sensing and quantum-sensing magnetic map matching. The solution combines ANELLO's Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG(TM) with Q-CTRL's Ironstone Opal quantum magnetic navigation capabilities. While standard inertial navigation systems suffer from cumulative "drift" over time, this layered approach provides continuous, bounded positioning estimates that do not degrade with mission duration. The SiPhOG(TM) offers high-precision, solid-state rotation sensing on a chip, while Q-CTRL's software-ruggedized quantum sensors utilize terrestrial magnetic signatures to maintain absolute positional accuracy without requiring a GPS fix. This collaboration moves quantum sensing beyond laboratory prototypes into field-deployable hardware intended for the world's most demanding environments, including active conflict zones like the Persian Gulf. Leaders from both firms, including ANELLO CEO Dr. Mario Paniccia and Q-CTRL CEO Michael J. Biercuk, highlighted that the architecture is designed to scale across diverse autonomous systems. By leveraging Q-CTRL's expertise in software-defined quantum infrastructure and ANELLO's patented solid-state sensor fusion, the partnership seeks to establish a new standard for sovereign and commercial mobility in an era of increasing electronic warfare and GNSS interference. For technical details on the SiPhOG(TM) technology and the Ironstone Opal quantum navigation stack, consult the official Q-CTRL announcement here. March 24, 2026
ANELLO Photonics and Q-CTRL announce strategic collaboration to redefine resilient navigation for uavs in gps-denied environments. Partnership combines integrated silicon photonics inertial sensing with quantum magnetic navigation, targeting a $1 billion-a-day-global challenge SANTA CLARA, Calif. and SYDNEY - ANELLO Photonics, the creator of the Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG(TM) and a leader in solid-state, high-precision inertial navigation systems, and Q-CTRL, the global leader in quantum infrastructure software for real-world quantum applications, today announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate the development of resilient navigation solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to operate in GPS-denied and contested environments. The partnership will integrate ANELLO's SiPhOG(TM) inertial navigation and measurement technology with Q-CTRL's Ironstone Opal quantum magnetic navigation capabilities, creating a multi-layered Quantum Navigation Solution (QNS) capable of delivering precise positioning even when GPS signals are degraded, jammed, or entirely unavailable. Satellite navigation has become foundational to land, air, and sea operations across commercial and defense sectors, however vulnerabilities in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are emerging as a critical challenge. GPS disruptions from deliberate interference, known as jamming or spoofing, pose a $1B daily threat in the U.S. alone, impacting defense missions and commercial transport and logistics operations worldwide. GPS jamming and spoofing have recently emerged as a major challenge in the Persian Gulf, impacting both military operations and shipping. This collaboration combines two breakthrough technologies, representing the world's first silicon photonics-based inertial sensing and quantum-sensing-powered magnetic map matching integration, and paves the way for QNS to scale. This layered approach provides a critical GNSS backup by delivering continuous, bounded positioning estimates that do not degrade with mission duration. The combined technology will define the future of resilient navigation for autonomous and mission-critical platforms operating in the world's most demanding environments. "Reliable navigation is fundamental to autonomy, safety, and mission assurance," said Dr. Mario Paniccia, Co-Founder and CEO of ANELLO Photonics. "By combining ANELLO's proven SiPhOG-based inertial sensing with Q-CTRL's groundbreaking Ironstone Opal quantum navigation technologies, we are exploring a powerful new architecture designed to deliver resilient positioning even when GPS is unavailable or compromised." "Our focus at Q-CTRL is on making quantum technologies useful in the real world, said Prof Michael J. Biercuk, CEO and Founder of Q-CTRL. "ANELLO has impressed us with their focus on enabling real-world missions for advanced autonomous platforms, and we're excited to combine our technologies to deliver the most advanced capabilities to our customers and the warfighters who keep us safe." As electronic warfare capabilities evolve and autonomy expands across commercial and defense operations, resilient navigation is becoming a requirement for supporting the next generation of mobility. About ANELLO Photonics ANELLO Photonics is a leading-edge technology company based in Santa Clara, CA. The company has developed the ANELLO SiPhOG(TM)- Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope - based on integrated photonic system-on-chip technology. ANELLO's technology portfolio spans over 45 issued patents, over 38 pending patents, and also includes an AI-based sensor fusion engine. ANELLO(R) and SiPhOG(TM) are registered trademarks of ANELLO Photonics. Learn more at https://www.anellophotonics.com/. About Q-CTRL Q-CTRL is a global leader in quantum infrastructure software that makes quantum technology useful. Q-CTRL delivers field-deployable capabilities for navigation in GPS-denied environments based on software-ruggedized quantum sensors, with collaborators including Lockheed Martin and Airbus. Their efforts in leveraging software to solve the most challenging problems in making quantum technologies useful in the real world carry over to quantum computing, where Q-CTRL partners with industry pioneers like IBM, Rigetti, NVIDIA, and AWS to enhance quantum computer performance through AI-driven control solutions. The company's breakthroughs have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and recognized by TIME Magazine as transforming both commercial and defense operations. Foundedin 2017 by Professor Michael J. Biercuk, Q-CTRL operates globally from offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin, and Oxford.
ANELLO Photonics and Q-CTRL have announced a strategic collaboration to develop resilient navigation solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles operating in GPS-denied environments. The partnership will integrate ANELLO's Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope inertial navigation technology with Q-CTRL's quantum magnetic navigation capabilities. The collaboration addresses a $1 billion daily threat from GPS disruptions, including jamming and spoofing, affecting defence missions and commercial logistics. The combined solution represents the first integration of silicon photonics-based inertial sensing with quantum-sensing-powered magnetic map matching. Santa Clara-based ANELLO Photonics has developed technology spanning over 45 issued patents. Sydney-based Q-CTRL, founded in 2017, is a global leader in quantum infrastructure software with partners including Lockheed Martin and Airbus. The multi-layered Quantum Navigation Solution will provide continuous positioning estimates independent of satellite systems.