Sr. Staff HW Engineer, Chip Bring-up

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!
In this role, you will design, develop, build, and test photonic systems that are key to our products. You will also interact with device, hardware, and software design teams to assist in developing photonic systems, specifying, selecting, and qualifying the components necessary.
Join a tight-knit team where each individual?s contributions directly influence the success of the company and our innovative products! At Lightmatter, you will have an opportunity to work with people who love to build and who thrive in technically diverse environments where great ideas are prioritized.
We are hiring a Senior Staff Photonics Hardware Engineer to join our Photonics team to drive chip bring-up, testing, and characterization of our Silicon Photonics-based Optical Interconnect Products.
Responsibilities
? Gain a deep understanding of our chip specifications to take ownership of chip bring-up, testing, and validation for our next generation Optical Interconnect products.
? Develop and support chip validation plans aligned to product specifications, xDVT, and interoperability testing requirements.
? Contribute to test plan development, test bench configuration planning, lab test equipment setup, and troubleshooting validation setups for successful chip bring-up and testing.
? Collaborate closely with the product validation team to perform Electro-Optic link-level testing in our lab using industry-standard practices and equipment.
Qualifications
? Master Degree in Electrical Engineering related field or equivalent experience.
? 12 years of experience in the Data Communication field, focusing on Electro-Optic link-level testing and characterization in a lab environment.
? Familiarity with PCB design, including HW test and debugging for Electro-Optic circuits.
? Ability to collaborate effectively with Design Engineers, SW Engineers, and cross-functional teams to quickly gain knowledge of Lightmatter products and drive chip bring-up and validation in the lab.
? Hands-on experience with standard bench test equipment for data communications, including Electro-Optic link testing and characterization.
? Basic scripting skills for automating lab tests, analyzing results, and generating reports.
? A solid understanding of electrical and optical blocks in transmitters and receivers to enable efficient chip bring-up and link testing.
? Proven ability to troubleshoot and debug electrical and optical building blocks in transceivers to identify bugs and root-cause performance gaps.
? Experience working with electro-optical simulation tools and validation software.
Preferred Qualifications
? PhD is a plus
? Experience with high-speed data communication systems, including NRZ and PAM4 signaling.
? Familiarity with industry standards such as IEEE, OIF-CEI, or similar for data communication systems.
? Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for scripting and automation.
? Strong documentation skills to develop clear test plans, reports, and technical presentations.
? Prior experience in leading or mentoring junior engineers in lab validation and testing workflows
We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data.
Salary Range
$209,000?$246,000 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
? Stock Option Plan
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.