Staff Digital Design Engineer

Lightmatter; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 145,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology innovator in AI infrastructure is seeking a Digital Design Engineer to develop ASICs for next-generation AI computing. The ideal candidate has significant experience in ASIC design and high-speed digital techniques. You will work closely with various teams to create innovative designs integrated with photonic technology. The role offers competitive compensation, including a generous salary range of $145,000 - $173,000 CAD, as well as equity grants and comprehensive benefits in a flexible workplace.

Benefits

Retirement Savings Matching Program

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)

Generous Time Off

Paid Family Leave

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Training & Development

Flexible, hybrid workplace model

Equity grants

Qualifications

• 8 years of related experience; or 6 years and a Master's degree in related fields.
• Experience in ASIC design with multiple successful tape outs.
• Expertise with high-speed and power-efficient digital design techniques.

Responsibilities

• Develop microarchitecture design and RTL for advanced ML/AI accelerator ASICs/SoCs.
• Integrate silicon photonic communication into digital accelerator design.
• Collaborate with Architecture, Design Verification, and Software teams for high performance designs.
• Create design specifications and documentation for collaboration.
• Manage RTL implementation to ensure correct and performant designs.

Skills

ASIC design

High-speed digital design techniques

Power-efficient digital design techniques

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Job description

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!

We are hiring a Digital Design Engineer to help develop an ASIC for the next‑generation artificial intelligence computing architecture alongside a team of world‑class scientists and engineers. If your passion is innovation, solving challenging technical problems, and doing impactful work, you should join our team and help build the world's first optical computers!

In this job, you will work in close collaboration with computer architects, software engineers, verification engineers, and physical design engineers to design innovative compute accelerators that work with photonic technology to power the growing AI/ML workloads that customers want while keeping power low. This will be a great opportunity to define the next advance in computer architecture!

Responsibilities

• Develop microarchitecture design and RTL for advanced ML/AI accelerator ASICs/SoCs including advanced memory system and high-performance NoC.
• Understand and integrate silicon photonic communication and compute technology into digital accelerator design.
• Actively work with Architecture, Design Verification, Implementation, Photonic, Analog and Software teams to realize high performance, low power designs in advanced technology nodes.
• Create design specifications and documentation to facilitate collaboration with partner teams.
• Manage RTL implementation to achieve functionally correct, performant designs within project schedules by identifying, communicating and mitigating risks.

Qualifications

• 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering (or related fields)
• Experience in ASIC design with multiple successful tape outs
• Expertise with high‑speed digital design techniques
• Expertise with power‑efficient digital design techniques

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in communication protocols (e.g. PCIe)
• Experience interfacing with memory systems (e.g. HBM/DDR5)
• Knowledge of processor design, accelerators, and/or memory hierarchies
• Knowledge of machine learning algorithms

We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role is 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.

$145,000 - $173,000 CAD

• 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
• 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.