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 Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will develop our internal Process Design Kit (PDK). You will act as the architect of our component library, bridging the gap between photonics device design and system-level verification. You will develop robust compact models for active and passive components, ensuring that our simulation environment accurately predicts the behavior of our physical layouts. You will work heavily in Python, EDA tools, applying software engineering rigor to the challenges of photonic hardware design.
Responsibilities- Develop and maintain a library of pcells using Python-based frameworks. Ensure strict synchronization between physical layout, logical netlists, and behavioral models.
- Create and verify physics based behavior models for passive and active devices.
- Design test structure, develop test plans for device FOMs extraction. Work with test engineers to get silicon data.
- Validate models against lab measurements. Perform data fitting and statistical analysis to align model parameters with real-world silicon performance.
- Automated Verification: Implement regression testing and Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines to ensure PDK updates do not break legacy designs or connectivity logic.
- Actively collaborate with design, analog, digital and architecture engineers to deliver high impact tape-outs
- Master’s +5 years experience or PhD +3 years experience in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field.
- Deep understanding of photonic device physics and experience in device simulation.
- Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators (e.g., Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or custom Python solvers).
- Experienced in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis. Comfortable with object-oriented programming and scientific libraries (NumPy, SciPy).
- Python based layout experience.
- Demonstrated strong problem solving skills for problems without obvious solutions
- Proficiency with python-based layout tools such as gdstk, GDSFactory, and KLayout
- Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems (e.g., SAX, Photontorch, Simphony).
- Experience with verilogA/spectre equivalent circuit modeling for photonics device
- Prior experience in using foundry-provided process design kits (PDKs), adhering to specific design rules and constraints, well understanding of DRC, LVS, etc.
- Experience working on large-scale designs using industry standard environments such as Cadence Virtuoso
- Experience in taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits, including familiarity with relevant testing equipment and methodologies.
- Possess strong project execution skills, demonstrating the ability to effectively manage multiple design priorities, adhere to project timelines, and meet critical milestones.
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 degree with at least 5 years of experience, or PhD with at least 3 years of experience, in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or a related field
- Deep understanding of photonic device physics and experience with device simulation
- Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators such as Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or custom Python solvers
- Experience using Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis
- Object-oriented programming experience and familiarity with NumPy and SciPy
- Python-based layout experience
- Strong problem-solving skills for complex, ambiguous problems
- Proficiency with Python-based layout tools such as gdstk, GDSFactory, and KLayout
- Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems such as SAX, Photontorch, or Simphony
- Experience with Verilog-A or Spectre equivalent-circuit modeling for photonics devices
- Experience using foundry-provided PDKs and applying design rules, DRC, and LVS
- Experience with large-scale designs in industry-standard environments such as Cadence Virtuoso
- Experience taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits
- Familiarity with photonic integrated circuit testing equipment and methodologies
- Strong project execution skills, including managing priorities, timelines, and milestones
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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