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 tight-knit team where each individual’s contributions directly influence the company's and product's success. You'll have the opportunity to build a new kind of computer, including the development of Silicon Photonics-based high-performance optical interconnect solutions for the next generation of AI-ML products from the ground up. Work with people who love to build and who thrive in technically diverse environments where great ideas are prioritized.
Responsibilities:
- Design, layout, and test innovative photonic devices
- Contribute and own large-scale photonic layouts for high-volume products
- Actively collaborate across disciplines, with analog, digital, and physical design teams to tapeout products and characterization devices.
- Actively collaborate with the product, sales, and architectural teams to define requirements for device characterization, debugging, and validation.
- Provide thought leadership in the area of expertise and be perceived as a subject matter expert
- Works on broader organizational projects that require a thorough understanding of photonics
- Accountable for results, which may impact the entire function
- Contribute to Process Design Kits (PDK) development
Qualifications:
- M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Physics or similar disciplines
- 8 years and a Master’s degree; PhD with 5 years experience; or equivalent experience.
- In-depth knowledge of semiconductor device physics
- In-depth knowledge of photonic devices and their modeling algorithms
- Experience with large-scale photonic layouts using industry standard and/or custom tools
- Demonstrated track record of ownership of integrated silicon photonics components
- Proficiency with photonic simulation tools such Ansys FDTD, Tidy3D, Photon Design or similar
- Proficiency with scripting languages such as Python
- Demonstrated strong problem solving skills, specifically pertaining to problems that do not have obvious solutions
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong project execution skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and meet project milestones.
- Excellent communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams
- Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills in problems that do not have obvious solutions
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
- M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Physics or similar disciplines
- 8 years and a Master's degree; PhD with 5 years experience; or equivalent experience.
- In-depth knowledge of semiconductor device physics
- In-depth knowledge of photonic devices and their modeling algorithms
- Experience with large-scale photonic layouts using industry standard and/or custom tools
- Demonstrated track record of ownership of integrated silicon photonics components
- Proficiency with photonic simulation tools such Ansys FDTD, Tidy3D, Photon Design or similar
- Proficiency with scripting languages such as Python
- Demonstrated strong problem solving skills, specifically pertaining to problems that do not have obvious solutions
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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