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 motivated, dedicated, and hands-on mechanical design engineer to help develop a chassis and rack platforms for the next-generation artificial intelligence server alongside a team of world-class scientists and engineers.
Responsibilities- Design, test, analyze, integrate, qualify and document hardware of moderate to high complexity, in a dynamic startup environment.
- Ensure proper packaging of optical, electrical and related components for optimal thermal performance.
- Responsible for mechanical design from generating CAD and drawings, to BOM generation and crafting work instructions.
- Fully understand project requirements and timelines while identifying gaps and drive to closure with the stakeholders
- Initiate and drive design reviews while managing the resulting feedback and change requests.
- Collaborate in root-cause-analysis and technical investigations with cross-functional teams.
- Drive hands-on in-house build and integration activities, scaling from initial prototype fabrication to leading external CMs for high-volume production.
- Manage outside fabricators to ensure correct build-to-print and quality workmanship.
- Work with technical program managers to define a detailed timeline.
- Actively mitigate and manage lead-time issues with the supply chain team.
- Collaborate with relevant cross-functional engineering teams to understand dependencies.
- Provide assistance to creating technical road-maps, establishing best practices, and determining product feasibility.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related fields
- 5+ years of experience in system mechanical design with multiple successful product releases
- Proficient in a 3D CAD solid modeling software package such as SolidWorks
- Familiar with both thermal and structural testing and analysis
- Experience with state-of-the-art mechanical engineering design and analysis tools (ANSYS preferred)
- Possess a strong understanding in the application of heat transfer principles, strength of materials, materials selection, design for vibration environments and the ability to apply those principles to unique mechanical design challenges.
- Industry experience in electronics packaging
- Strong communication and adaptive in execution
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- Familiar with 3D printing equipment and processes
- Proficient with FEA software package (ANSYS, SolidWorks)
- Proficient with thermal simulation and analysis software package (IcePak, Flotherm)
This role is open to two different roles. Level and salary range is dependent on education, years of industry experience, and interview performance.
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
- 5+ years of experience in system mechanical design with multiple successful product releases
- BS degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- Proficient in a 3D CAD solid modeling software package
- Familiar with thermal and structural testing and analysis
- Experienced with state-of-the-art mechanical engineering design tools
- Strong understanding of heat transfer principles, strength of materials, and design for vibration
- Experience with electronics packaging
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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