Lightmatter · 6 hours ago
Sr Staff Photonics Architect
Mountain View, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$210K/yr - $256K/yr
8+ years expLightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. They are hiring a Photonics Architect to develop integrated and highly scalable laser solutions for AI computation, collaborating with cross-disciplinary engineering teams to deliver innovative designs and validate system performance.
AI InfrastructureArtificial Intelligence (AI)Data CenterMachine LearningSemiconductorSoftware
Responsibilities
Engage with a cross-functional team to design and deliver a successful high-volume laser product
Deliver laser module architecture specifications and work closely with hardware and software teams to define functionality, interfaces, and documentation
Actively collaborate with Lightmatter Passage team to drive alignment between Guide and Passage product architectures
Engage in problem-solving to develop innovative high-performance laser solutions
Actively collaborate across disciplines with electronics, photonics, mechanical, and thermal engineering teams to design systems, control algorithms, PICs, and PMICs that meet performance, power, and production requirements
Engage with the engineering, product, sales, and architecture teams to define requirements for subsystems, device characterization, debug, and validation
Validate architectures, models, and specifications via hands-on testing of dies, prototype assemblies, and packaged modules
Collaborate with test engineers and technicians to define production test and validation protocols, as well as to analyze and debug test results
Work with external vendors to ensure timely development and delivery of key processes and components
Contribute to the roadmap of laser development, improving performance, scalability, power consumption, and cost
Publish and present novel ideas, and participate in premier photonics conferences
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. degree in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or similar discipline
Minimum 8 years of experience in photonic devices, photonic integrated circuits, and semiconductor physics
Strong understanding of laser physics and silicon photonics
Experience closely collaborating with cross-functional teams
Ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders with strong and clear communication
Demonstrated strong problem solving skills specifically pertaining to problems that do not have obvious solutions
Strong ability to implement analog and photonics circuits in python to model the behavior of Lightmatter Laser products
Preferred
Experience in lasers for datacom applications
Experience working in a high volume manufacturing environment
Demonstrated technical leadership of a cross-functional team
Willing and able to learn quickly, self-starter with a “no task is too big or small” attitude
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