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!
As a Lead Photonics Engineer you will serve as a technical authority and mentor, driving engineering excellence and fostering the technical growth of a team of test engineers. In this role, you will architect cutting-edge test concepts and platforms early in the design phase, collaborating closely with architecture and design teams to validate technology models. You will oversee the end-to-end definition, development, and execution of complex wafer, package, and system-level tests, while directing test software development and establishing code-review best practices. Leveraging your multiple years of industry experience and exceptional leadership skills, you will manage vital vendor relationships, act as a cross-functional liaison between silicon, platform, and reliability teams, and partner with OSATs to refine testing for high-volume manufacturing.
Responsibilities- Mentor a team of test engineers, fostering technical growth, setting performance expectations, and driving a culture of engineering excellence across test development disciplines.
- Serve as a technical authority by working directly with architecture and design teams to understand the technology and conceptualize characterization and test techniques targeting feedback for design model validations.
- Architect and champion test concepts, test platforms, design for test rules, and provide strategic feedback early during the technology concept phase.
- Own and drive the creation of detailed test plan documentation, ensuring timely execution and cross-functional alignment.
- Lead the definition, development, and setup of wafer, package, and system level tests for Lightmatter silicon photonics products, guiding junior engineers through complex test challenges.
- Direct and oversee test software development to enable test execution, data analysis, and parameter extraction — including code reviews and best practice standards for the team.
- Guide vendor relationships to specify and procure test equipment, mentoring team members in vendor evaluation and negotiation.
- Train and coach engineers in the setup and operation of optical equipment such as tunable lasers, power meters, polarization synthesizers, OBR/OVA, and high-speed test equipment.
- Act as a bridge and technical liaison between silicon and platform validation teams, driving alignment and closing gaps across organizations.
- Lead collaboration with OSAT teams to define, validate, and refine test techniques for high volume manufacturing, with accountability for team deliverables.
- Partner with the reliability team for pre and post-stress test needs, delegating and developing team capability in this space.
- Champion continuous learning within the team by staying current with the latest developments in Silicon Photonics technology and testability, and disseminating knowledge broadly.
- Bachelor’s in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of proven experience in silicon photonics test development, including demonstrated leadership or team lead experience
- Proven track record of mentoring and developing engineers, with the ability to set technical direction and elevate team capability
- Proven industrial experience in supporting new product introduction and volume production
- Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Ability to influence across teams and organizational boundaries, driving alignment and accountability without direct authority where needed
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
- Bachelor's in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of proven experience in silicon photonics test development, including demonstrated leadership or team lead experience
- Proven track record of mentoring and developing engineers and setting technical direction
- Industrial experience supporting new product introduction and volume production
- Exceptional communication and leadership skills to convey complex technical concepts to varied stakeholders
- Ability to influence across teams and drive alignment without direct authority
- Capacity to comply with U.S. export control laws
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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