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 hiring a talented software QA engineer to help us build the next generation of photonic AI processors and interconnects. In this role, you will be responsible for planning and automating device software and firmware testing capabilities for Photonic Compute and Photonic interconnect products. You will collaborate with other software teams and hardware systems teams to enhance the delivery of quality software. You will leverage your skills with standard methodologies and tools to effectively implement industry best practices in our environment.
Responsibilities- Develop and execute comprehensive test plans and test cases for embedded software and systems.
- Set up and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment.
- Conduct Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing to simulate real-world scenarios.
- Utilize JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers to identify and diagnose issues.
- Track and manage defects using issue tracking systems like Jira or GitHub issues.
- Analyze test results and generate detailed reports on findings and metrics.
- Automate test scripts using languages like Python or Bash.
- Collaborate with hardware and software teams to resolve issues and improve product quality.
- Contribute to the improvement of testing methodologies and best practices.
- Report progress, metrics, and potential roadblocks to leadership.
- BS and 8+ years of experience, or MS and 6+ years of experience
- Familiarity with embedded development and test environments, including proficiency with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) concepts and usage, and understanding of software testing methodologies and best practices for embedded systems.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or CircleCI, and experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing.
- Experience with scripting languages like Python or Bash for test automation.
- Experience with PyTest, CppUtest, static analysis and other test frameworks.
- Knowledge of embedded system architectures and hardware interfaces.
- Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including hardware and software engineers.
- Familiarity with version control systems like GitHub, GitLab or BitBucket.
- Experience with issue tracking systems like Jira, GitHub Issues or Bugzilla.
- Knowledge of common testing and debugging tools, such as JTAG debuggers (e.g., Lauterbach TRACE32), oscilloscopes (e.g., Tektronix), and protocol analyzers (e.g., Wireshark, Saleae, Aardvark).
- Ability to analyze and report on test results and metrics.
- Understanding of embedded Linux and driver development.
- Knowledge of peripheral buses and communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, and Ethernet.
- Experience in developing test plans and test cases for embedded software using tools like TestRail or Zephyr Scale.
- Experience with performance testing and optimization of embedded systems.
- Knowledge of security testing practices for embedded devices.
- Experience in forming and leading a QA team, including mentoring team members and developing project schedules.
- Ability to report progress and metrics to leadership, and contribute to strategic planning for QA processes.
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
- BS and 8+ years of experience, or MS and 6+ years of experience
- Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field
- Industry experience with device driver and kernel side development
- Strong understanding of hardware-software integration
- Practical knowledge of communication and control in embedded systems, peripherals, and buses
- Experience with developing commercial/enterprise-level software and firmware on Linux
- Experience with Git and CMake for building and managing software projects
- Hands-on experience designing, simulating, or deploying control of autonomous systems
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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