Lightmatter · 1 week ago
Staff Photonics Design Engineer
Mountain View, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$175K/yr - $210K/yr
3+ years expLightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. In this role, you will design, develop, build, and test photonic systems that are key to our products, collaborating with various teams to ensure successful development.
AI InfrastructureArtificial Intelligence (AI)Data CenterMachine LearningSemiconductorSoftware
Responsibilities
Design high-performance photonics devices suitable for high-volume manufacturing
Actively collaborate across disciplines—with analog, digital, and physical design teams—to layout photonic devices for key test and product tape outs
Work with the photonics test team in defining requirements for device characterization, debug and validation
Analyze characterization data to ensure the device/system meets the specifications
Engage in problem solving and contributing with novel architectural ideas
Publish and novel ideas related to photonics, and participate in premier optics/photonics conferences
Qualification
Required
PhD in EECS, Physics, or related discipline with 3-10 years of industry experience minimum
Must have knowledge of photonic device physics
Experience with PDK and Cadence environments
Demonstrated track record of design integrated silicon photonics components
Experience with characterization, analysis and model fitting of photonic devices
Ability to collaborate in cross-disciplinary team
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrate strong problem solving skills in problems that do not have obvious solutions
Preferred
Experience with Verilog-A for photonics a plus
Strong publication record in the photonics field a plus
Experience with code based GDS creation such as GDS Factory or similar a plus
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)
Company
Lightmatter
Lightmatter develops photonic chips that enable data processing and communication using light instead of electricity.
201-500 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Lightmatter has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (21)
2024 (12)
2023 (5)
2022 (4)
2021 (4)
2020 (4)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$822MKey Investors
T. Rowe PriceViking Global InvestorsGoogle Ventures
2024-10-16Series D· $400M
2023-12-19Series C· $155M
2023-05-31Series C· $154M
Leadership Team
Nicholas Harris
Founder, CEO
B
Bob Turner
Sr. VP Sales & Solution Architecture
Recent News
2025-11-23
2025-10-09
Company data provided by crunchbase