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!
We are looking for a strategic, experienced, business oriented, hands-on attorney to lead and run Lightmatter’s contracting function. In this role, you will architect the commercial frameworks that enable the deployment of next generation light-based server connectivity. You will move beyond standard contracts to negotiate complex, high-stakes technical and intellectual property transactions that are critical to our roadmap. If you are a collaborative, innovative professional passionate about tackling complex challenges and making an impact, join us!
How do you stand out?
You are a "deal architect" with a deep understanding of the semiconductor lifecycle, from R&D to mass production. You don’t just redline contracts - you understand the underlying technology, business dynamics, risk profiles, negotiation timing and can fluidly navigate sophisticated technology transaction structures. You possess the expertise of a top-tier law firm, the practical business acumen of an in-house practitioner in the hardware space, and the situational judgment to understand what really matters in contract negotiations.
Responsibilities
- Contract Lifecycle Management: Drive the full lifecycle of commercial transactions, from initial structuring and term sheet negotiation to execution and post-closing management.
- Draft and Negotiate Commercial Transactions: Own the drafting, negotiation, and management of a wide variety of commercial contracts, including purchase, supply, services, quality and collaboration agreements for high-value hardware and software solutions.
- Lead IP & Technical Transactions: Structure and negotiate intellectual property agreements, including inbound/outbound licensing, joint development agreements, and technology partnerships.
- Strategic Advisory: Partner with engineering, supply chain, product, and sales leadership to address legal risks in commercial engagements and enable pragmatic, business-focused solutions.
- Scale Legal Operations: Create and maintain contract playbooks, templates, negotiation processes and systems to streamline the contracting cycle as the company scales.
- Manage Risk: Advise on license compliance, export control implications, and warranty/indemnity structures specific to the semiconductor and data center industries.
Qualifications
- Experience: A minimum of 10+ years of legal practice, with significant experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
- Specialized Expertise: Demonstrated mastery of technology and intellectual property transactions, specifically regarding the development, licensing, manufacturing, supply and technical support for semiconductor and hardware designs, tools, technology and products.
- Education: J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to a state bar in good standing.
- Soft Skills: Strong business acumen with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear guidance for non-legal stakeholders throughout Lightmatter.
Preferred Qualifications
- Industry Background: Prior in-house experience within the semiconductor, hardware, or deep-tech industries is highly preferred.
- Firm Experience: Training and experience at a top-tier law firm.
- Technical Fluency: An undergraduate degree in technical field, or a demonstrated ability to understand semiconductor hardware technologies.
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
- 10+ years of legal practice experience
- Expertise in technology and intellectual property transactions
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Admission to a state bar in good standing
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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