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 seeking a Staff Hardware Test & Bring-Up Engineer to lead development of automated system-level tests from hardware bring up through mass production ramp. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to transition these technologies into high-volume manufacturing. We are looking for an engineer with a strong background in delivering test solutions for industry-leading products. You will be part of a growing interdisciplinary team with a lot of opportunities to learn and make a big impact.
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end hardware bring-up for ATE HW, and partner directly with equipment suppliers to debug hardware anomalies.
- Lead the initial electrical bring-up for our photonic ICs products mounted on system-level evaluation boards.
- Architect and build robust, automated system-level test software programs in Python or C/C++ running on the test bench.
- Collaborate with IC Design, DFT, and Firmware teams to define hardware test requirements and isolate silicon versus board-level bugs.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 8+ years of hands-on experience in physical hardware bring-up, PCBA functional testing, and custom ATE loadboard/socket integration for complex ASICs/SoCs.
- Expertise in validating complex multi-rail power-up/power-down sequences and troubleshooting dynamic load behaviors.
- Deep practical mastery of JTAG, QSPI/QPI, I2C, and SPI communication protocols.
- Experience driving hardware verification, integrating firmware diagnostic APIs, and executing direct register read/write routines.
- Advanced proficiency in Python or C/C++ for writing test executives, automating sequences over hardware bridges, and programmatic control of lab instrumentation.
- Expert hands-on command of standard bench equipment: digital multimeters (DMMs), Source Measure Units (SMUs), programmable power supplies, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree with 6+ years of industry experience.
- Experience with embedded microcontrollers or debugging low-level firmware drivers.
- Familiarity with boundary scan (BSDL) tools, DFT concepts (MBIST, Scan), or standard ATE architectures.
- Basic understanding of eFUSE programming circuits, ADC/DAC calibration routines, or precision thermal sensing.
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 degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 8+ years of hands-on experience in physical hardware bring-up, PCBA functional testing, and custom ATE loadboard/socket integration for complex ASICs or SoCs
- Expertise validating complex multi-rail power-up and power-down sequences and troubleshooting dynamic load behaviors
- Deep practical mastery of JTAG, QSPI/QPI, I2C, and SPI communication protocols
- Experience driving hardware verification, integrating firmware diagnostic APIs, and executing direct register read/write routines
- Advanced proficiency in Python or C/C++ for test executives, hardware-bridge automation, and programmatic lab-instrument control
- Expert hands-on experience with DMMs, SMUs, programmable power supplies, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
- Master’s degree with 6+ years of industry experience
- Experience with embedded microcontrollers or low-level firmware driver debugging
- Familiarity with BSDL tools, DFT concepts including MBIST and Scan, or standard ATE architectures
- Basic understanding of eFUSE programming circuits, ADC/DAC calibration routines, or precision thermal sensing
- Capacity to comply with federally mandated U.S. export control requirements
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Gallery
