Embodiments are disclosed for providing a silicon photonics collimator for wafer level assembly. An example apparatus includes a silicon photonics (SiP) device and a micro-optical passive element. The SiP device comprises a set of optical waveguides. The micro-optical passive element is mounted on an edge of a cavity etched into a silicon surface of the SiP device. Furthermore, the micro-optical passive element is configured to direct optical signals between the set of optical waveguides and an external optical element.