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!
Join a cutting-edge team at the forefront of silicon photonics and high-speed transceiver design! As a member of the analog team, you’ll collaborate with our architects and engineers to develop innovative high-speed analog transceiver solutions for next-generation optical and wireline communication systems.
Responsibilities- Design high-performance and high-speed AMS circuits with a focus on transceivers and broadband circuits interfacing with silicon photonics elements
- Investigate and evaluate new Analog & Mixed-Signal circuit topologies with chip architects
- Lead the discussions with multi-functional teams (system, digital, analog, photonics) to create and drive block-level specifications, mixed-signal implementations, and behavioral modeling
- Document design simulations and verifications towards formal design reviews
- Drive block-level floorplan, mask design views, and their reviews
- Run post-layout and mixed-signal top-level simulations to validate integration
- Define production and bench-level test plans
- Validate performances of the circuits in the lab
- Mentor junior design engineers
- MS with 12+ years of industry experience, OR Ph.D with 10+ years of industry experience designing in either GHz-speed RF or GHz-speed broadband analog design
- Experience designing Analog-Front-End blocks for SerDes
- Experience and deep understanding of Tx/Rx equalization techniques and circuits
- Excellent understanding of CMOS device characteristics, noise, linearity, high-frequency circuit theory and design trade-offs
- Proven experience working with system and architecture teams to drive block-level and IP requirements
- Experience in Analog Mixed Signal circuit modeling and performance evaluation (e.g., SystemVerilog, Matlab, Python, VerilogAMS)
- Experience with 3D Electro-Magnetic (EM) simulation tools
- Prior experience in leading or mentoring junior design engineers
- Ability to work collaboratively with people across multiple functional areas
- Experience designing Analog-Front-End blocks for transceiver circuits such as trans-impedance amplifiers (TIA) and Tx Driver
- Experience interfacing with silicon photonic modulators (MZM, Ring)
- Hands-on design experience in advanced CMOS technologies, such as FinFET
- Successful track record in delivering analog/mixed-signal IPs with 1st-time success while meeting tight schedules
We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data.
- 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.
Skills Required
- MS with 12+ years industry experience or Ph.D with 10+ years industry experience in GHz-speed RF or GHz-speed broadband analog design
- Experience designing Analog-Front-End blocks for SerDes
- Deep understanding of Tx/Rx equalization techniques and circuits
- Excellent understanding of CMOS device characteristics, noise, linearity, and high-frequency circuit design trade-offs
- Proven experience working with system and architecture teams to drive block-level and IP requirements
- Experience in analog mixed-signal circuit modeling and performance evaluation (SystemVerilog, Matlab, Python, VerilogAMS)
- Experience with 3D Electro-Magnetic (EM) simulation tools
- Prior experience in leading or mentoring junior design engineers
- Ability to work collaboratively across multiple functional areas
- Experience designing AFE blocks for transceiver circuits such as TIA and Tx Driver
- Experience interfacing with silicon photonic modulators (MZM, Ring)
- Hands-on design experience in advanced CMOS technologies such as FinFET
- Track record delivering analog/mixed-signal IPs with first-time success on tight schedules
Lightmatter Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Lightmatter and has not been reviewed or approved by Lightmatter.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive for specialized photonics and AI‑hardware roles, with posted ranges and third‑party totals aligning to strong market levels. Compensation for niche roles is framed as consistent with top‑tier hardware/photonics expectations.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare is described as comprehensive, covering medical, dental, and vision in current postings. Additional protections like life insurance and disability are also called out.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants for full‑time employees are commonly included alongside base pay. Some postings also mention performance‑based equity components.
Lightmatter Insights
What We Do
Lightmatter is a startup photonics company that has pioneered a new paradigm in processor chip architecture that uses photons instead of electrons. Now the leader in the photonic AI compute “space race,” this new class of high performance semiconductors is the foundation of Lightmatter’s mission to enable the growth of computing, reduce harmful emissions associated with this growth, and democratize computing for all. Lightmatter's technology accelerates critical operations in deep neural networks, using an array of programmable photonic elements fabricated alongside transistors in conventional computer chip fabrication processes. Our close-knit team of engineers has created an integrated photonics chip and ultra-high performance interconnect that is faster, more efficient, and cooler than anything else on earth (or anything ever experienced before) to power the next giant leaps in human progress.
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