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!
About this Role
You will be focused on validating and architecting package and system-level test strategies for high-speed I/O interfaces on Lightmatter’s novel product line. In this role, you will be responsible for setting up and executing high-speed electrical characterization, driving link bring-ups, and stress-testing I/Os in system environments.
You will work closely with cross-functional teams to transition these technologies into high-volume manufacturing. We are looking for an engineer with a proven track record of testing real-world industry products. You will be part of a growing interdisciplinary team with a lot of opportunities to learn and make a big impact.
Responsibilities
- Execute high-speed serial I/O characterization and validation across multiple platforms for Lightmatter products.
- Work directly with architecture, signal integrity, and silicon design teams to understand the technology and conceptualize characterization and test techniques targeting product manufacturing.
- Architect test concepts, test platforms, and design-for-test rules, providing critical feedback during the technology concept phase.
- Set up and operate a wide range of high-speed lab equipment, including oscilloscopes, BERTs, AWGs, TDRs, and VNAs/PNAs.
- Develop Python-based test software and scripts to automate lab measurements, test execution, data analysis, and parameter extraction.
- Define and develop stress testing methodologies to identify design operating limits of serial I/Os post-system integration.
- Troubleshoot and triage complex issues with compliance test hardware, fixtures, software, and the Device Under Test (DUT).
- Work with vendors to specify and procure state-of-the-art test equipment.
Requirements
- Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- 6+ years of industry experience in transceiver, SerDes, or high-speed link test development on products
- Extensive hands-on lab experience and familiarity with high-speed equipment, including oscilloscopes, BERTs, PPGs, VNAs, and spectrum analyzers.
- Strong familiarity with high-speed interfaces and analog building blocks (e.g., PLL, CDR, CTLE, DFE, FFE, and FEC).
- Experience in test system automation and data processing using Python.
- Strong analytical and debugging skills to identify and solve hardware and signal integrity issues during the testing process.
- Ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience in the characterization and testing of silicon photonics components and circuits (e.g., tunable lasers, power meters, polarization synthesizers, OBR/OVA).
- Understanding of Silicon Photonics components and optical testing methodologies.
- Deep knowledge of system-level SerDes design and channel analysis, including understanding insertion loss, return loss, crosstalk, and link training algorithms.
- Knowledge of industry specifications such as IEEE 802.3, OIF, PCIe, or USB4.
- Ph.D. with 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
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
- Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
- 6+ years industry experience in transceiver, SerDes, or high-speed link test development on products.
- Extensive hands-on lab experience with high-speed equipment (oscilloscopes, BERTs, PPGs, VNAs, AWGs, TDRs, spectrum analyzers).
- Strong familiarity with high-speed interfaces and analog building blocks (PLL, CDR, CTLE, DFE, FFE, FEC).
- Experience in test system automation and data processing using Python.
- Strong analytical and debugging skills for hardware and signal integrity issues.
- Ability to convey complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Hands-on experience in characterization and testing of silicon photonics components and optical testing methodologies.
- Deep knowledge of system-level SerDes design and channel analysis (insertion loss, return loss, crosstalk, link training).
- Knowledge of industry specifications such as IEEE 802.3, OIF, PCIe, or USB4.
- Ph.D. with 2+ years relevant industry experience.
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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