Photonics Architect

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! Lightmatter builds chips that enable extreme-scale AI computing clusters. If you're a collaborative engineer or scientist who has a passion for innovation, solving challenging technical problems and doing impactful work, consider joining the team at Lightmatter! We are hiring a Photonics Architect. The selected candidate will partner with the internal engineering team to deliver groundbreaking products to the market. As an architect, you will provide detailed technical documents that describe what needs to be built to the engineering team. This will require a solid understanding of process technology, state of the art in photonics design, and clear communication skills. In this role, you will be defining the (micro-)architecture for a ground-breaking photonic-based communication fabric. From component-level design to top-level layout, you will be part of a team that enables high-bandwidth low-latency photonic interconnect/switch fabric. You will report directly to the Sr. Director of Architecture, but you will also work closely with our photonic and analog teams to define and optimize the features needed to improve the power, performance, and area (PPA) of the next generation product. Join a tight-knit team where each individual’s contributions directly influence the success of the company and product. You'll have the opportunity to build a new kind of computer from the ground up and to solve groundbreaking challenges along the way. Work with people who love to build and who thrive in technically diverse environments where great ideas are prioritized. Responsibilities: Propose innovative photonic designs—modulators, receivers, multiplexers, lasers, amplifiers—for the product. Work closely with the photonic engineering design team to provide the performance, power, and area estimates of the photonic devices within Passage. Actively collaborate with the analog engineering team to provide a high-bandwidth photonic interconnect solution. Author, review, and validate architectural specifications. Qualifications: PhD in electrical engineering, physics, applied physics, or a discipline related to photonics. In-depth knowledge of photonic devices and semiconductor physics. Experience with integrated silicon photonics components. Preferably has experience with photonic simulation tools: FDTD, umerical, Verilog-A, VPI Photonics. Ability and desire to collaborate in a cross-disciplinary team. Demonstrated strong problem solving skills specifically pertaining to 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. Salary Range: total compensation goes beyond base salary, it also includes a new hire equity grant, annual performance-based equity, and other rewards that recognize your impact and contribution. $212,000—$321,000 USD Benefits 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.