Staff Photonics Design Engineer

Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world’s first 3D-stacked photonics engine, Passage™, capable of connecting thousands to millions of processors at the speed of light in extreme-scale data centers for the most advanced AI and HPC workloads.

Lightmatter raised $400 million in its Series D round, reaching a valuation of $4.4 billion. We will continue to accelerate the development of data center photonics and grow every department at Lightmatter!

If you're passionate about tackling complex challenges, making an impact, and being an expert in your craft, join our team of brilliant scientists, engineers, and accomplished industry leaders.

Lightmatter is (re)inventing the future of computing with light!

In this role, you will design, develop, build, and test photonic systems that are key to our products. You will also interact with device, hardware, and software design teams to assist in the overall development of photonic systems, specifying, selecting, and qualifying the various components necessary.

Join a tight-knit team where each individual’s contributions directly influence the success of the company and our innovative products! You'll have the opportunity to build a new kind of computer from the ground up and to solve groundbreaking challenges along the way. Work with people who love to build and who thrive in technically diverse environments where great ideas are prioritized.

Responsibilities

Design high-performance photonics devices suitable for high-volume manufacturing

Actively collaborate across disciplines—with analog, digital, and physical design teams—to layout photonic devices for key test and product tape outs

Work with the photonics test team in defining requirements for device characterization, debug and validation

Analyze characterization data to ensure the device/system meets the specifications

Engage in problem solving and contributing with novel architectural ideas

Publish and novel ideas related to photonics, and participate in premier optics/photonics conferences

Qualifications

PhD in EECS, Physics, or related discipline with 3-10 years of industry experience minimum

Must have knowledge of photonic device physics

Experience with PDK and Cadence environments

Demonstrated track record of design integrated silicon photonics components

Experience with characterization, analysis and model fitting of photonic devices

Ability to collaborate in cross-disciplinary team

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Demonstrate strong problem solving skills in problems that do not have obvious solutions

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Verilog-A for photonics a plus

Strong publication record in the photonics field a plus

Experience with code based GDS creation such as GDS Factory or similar a plus

#LI-FM1

We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data.

Salary Range: total compensation goes beyond base salary, it also includes a new hire equity grant, annual performance-based equity, and other rewards that recognize your impact and contribution.

$175,000—$210,000 USD

Benefits

Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)

Retirement Savings Matching Program

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)

Generous Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)

Paid Family Leave

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Training & Development

Commuter Benefits

Flexible, hybrid workplace model

Equity grants (applicable to full-time employees)

Benefits eligibility may vary depending on your employment status and location. Lightmatter recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

Export Control

Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.