Photonics Architect
lightmatter
Director, Photonics Hardware Validation
lightmatter· Product Engineering
About this role
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 pivotal role within Silicon Engineering, you will own the end-to-end post-silicon validation strategy and execution across optical, electrical, and system level. You will collaborate directly with Silicon Design, Laser, Packaging, Software, and Supply Chain leadership to architect scalable lab infrastructure, drive automated testing frameworks, and ensure our products meet world-class reliability standards for hyperscale AI data centers.
Responsibilities
- Scale the product validation team by recruiting, mentoring, and developing multi-disciplinary talent across optical, electrical, software, and automation domains.
- Drive silicon and platform validation strategies, requirements, and execution plans for our optical interconnect platform.
- Architect and define comprehensive, at-scale validation environments, test frameworks, automated test suites, and telemetry data collection workflows.
- Analyze silicon and system architecture to identify integration risks, design gaps, and marginality issues requiring rigorous corner validation.
- Oversee the execution of validation plans, leading technical triage and root-cause debug for hardware, firmware, and system-level issues.
- Partner closely with Silicon, Packaging, Hardware, and Software teams to align validation coverage with design specifications and system requirements.
- Influence pre-silicon design and simulation milestones to ensure feature completeness, advocating for validation hooks, telemetry sensors, and diagnostic monitors on-chip and on reference platforms.
- Drive hardware and software automation initiatives to enhance testing throughput, repeatability, and data analytics capabilities across validation labs.
Qualifications
- BS, MS, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or a related technical field.
- 12+ years of semiconductor or hardware validation experience, with significant exposure to optical/photonics link-level products.
- Strong technical background in laser, optics, or silicon photonics architecture and characterization.
- 5+ years of experience developing test content, automation infrastructure, and scripting in Python or C++.
- Proven leadership track record managing cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced environment working on transceivers or link-level products.
- Solid understanding of industry standard requirements (IEEE, MSA, OIF) and product validation through corner testing (temperature, voltage, and process matrices), including defining validation plans and generating validation reports.
- Demonstrated ability to establish process improvements, test methodologies, and data analysis workflows.
Preferred Qualifications
- Excellent technical leadership, communication, and cross-functional project management skills.
- Proven track record of successfully leading multiple link-level products through validation and high-volume production release.
- Experience scaling engineering teams through hypergrowth, establishing career development frameworks, and fostering a high-performance environment.
- Demonstrated capability to align executive stakeholders on technical roadmaps, resource trade-offs, and risk mitigation strategies.
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.
$261,000—$300,000 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the salary disclosed for the Director, Photonics Hardware Validation position at lightmatter?
The salary for this Director, Photonics Hardware Validation role at lightmatter is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Director, Photonics Hardware Validation position at lightmatter located?
This Director, Photonics Hardware Validation role at lightmatter is based in Mountain View, CA. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Which team or department does the Director, Photonics Hardware Validation at lightmatter belong to?
This Director, Photonics Hardware Validation position is part of the Product Engineering department at lightmatter. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Director, Photonics Hardware Validation position at lightmatter?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to lightmatter's official application portal hosted on greenhouse where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Director, Photonics Hardware Validation job at lightmatter posted?
This Director, Photonics Hardware Validation position at lightmatter was posted on Jul 1, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Director, Photonics Hardware Validation
lightmatter
You'll be redirected to lightmatter's official application page on Greenhouse.