In one embodiment, an intensity modulated (IM) direct detection (DD) optical receiver using a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) with an array of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) for flexible chromatic dispersion compensation (CDC) is provided. The PIC comprises an 1:N optical splitter to split an input optical signal into N copies; an array of N semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) to receive the N optical outputs from the optical splitter; an array of optical delay lines to receive the outputs from the N SOAs, wherein the delay coefficients for the array of optical delay lines are {0, T, 2T, . . . (N−1) T}, where T=½B, where B is the system symbol rate, and each optical path with odd index (1, 3, 5, . . . N−1) from the N optical paths includes a 90-degree phase-shifter; and an optical N:1 coupler to re-combine all N optical paths. A method for automatically controlling a PIC based on the feedback signal from the Rx DSP in an optical receiver is also provided.