Electro-Optic Systems Architect

Lightmatter; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Plan

Retirement Savings Matching

Life Insurance

Generous Time Off

Paid Family Leave

Disability Insurance

Training & Development

Commuter Benefits

Flexible, hybrid workplace model

Equity grants

Job summary

Lightmatter is seeking an Electro‑Optic Systems Architect to advance Passage’s electrical‑optical links and collaborate with internal engineering teams to translate models into market-ready products.

You will model, test, and validate electronic-photonic architectures, run RF experiments, and contribute to architectural specifications while thriving in a collaborative, fast-paced culture at Lightmatter.

Qualifications

• PhD in electrical engineering, physics, or photonics-related field.
• Proficient with Cadence photonics/analog simulators (Virtuoso, Spectre, Verilog-A).
• Proficient in Python or Matlab for simulations.
• Strong RF/mm-wave analog circuit design experience.
• Experience with corner and Monte Carlo analyses.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Strong problem-solving skills for non-obvious problems.

Responsibilities

• Electro-optic system modeling using Cadence photonics-analog simulators and RF testing.
• Co-design analog and photonic devices with design teams based on end-to-end simulations.
• Validate models via high-speed RF experiments and proof-of-concept testing.
• Draft, review, and validate architectural specifications.

Skills

RF/mm-wave design

Python scripting

Matlab scripting

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

PhD in electrical engineering or related photonics

Tools

Cadence photonics/analog simulators

Ansys HFSS

Keysight ADS

Python

Matlab

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, and is accelerating the development of data center photonics while growing every department.

We are hiring an Electro‑Optic Systems Architect. The selected candidate will partner with internal engineering teams to deliver groundbreaking products to the market. In this role, you will ensure that Passage’s electrical‑optical‑electrical links are performant and meet customer requirements, engage with cross‑disciplinary engineering teams to model and analyze solutions, and test and measure prototypes to validate the models. This is a role for collaborative engineers or scientists who thrive in technically diverse environments where great ideas are prioritized.

Responsibilities

• Electro‑optic system modeling using Cadence photonics‑analog simulators (Verilog‑A, Spectre, Virtuoso), VPI Photonics, and Keysight ADS
• Co‑design the analog and photonic devices with engineering design teams based on end‑to‑end simulation results
• Validate models by designing high‑speed RF experiments, conducting proof‑of‑concept experiments, and analyzing existing data
• Author, review, and validate architectural specifications

This is not a complete listing of the responsibilities. It’s a representation of the things you will be doing.

Qualifications

• PhD in electrical engineering, physics, applied physics, or a discipline related to photonics
• Proficient in Cadence photonics/analog simulators (Virtuoso, Spectre, Verilog‑A), Ansys HFSS, Keysight ADS
• Highly proficient in coding simulations in Python or Matlab
• Highly proficient in RF/mm-wave analog circuit design
• Experience with corner analysis and Monte Carlo analysis
• Ability and desire to collaborate in a cross‑disciplinary team
• Demonstrated strong problem‑solving skills specifically pertaining to problems that do not have obvious solutions

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with silicon photonic integrated circuit design and test experience
• Knowledge of signal processing and signal integrity in optical communications
• Knowledge of SERDES and mixed‑signal interfaces
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Professional and Cultural Characteristics

• A culture champion for Lightmatter, aligns with the company’s light‑hearted culture
• Willing and able to learn quickly; self‑starter with a “no task is too big or small” attitude
• Collaborates well with others regardless of discipline
• Innovative and flexible; realizes that a one‑size‑fits‑all approach will not always solve the problem at hand
• Data‑driven and analytical; translates numbers into actionable strategies
• Process‑oriented and programmatic: builds structure through processes that can be relied upon across the organization

Salary Range: total compensation goes beyond base salary, including a new hire equity grant, annual performance‑based equity, and other rewards that recognize impact and contribution. Base salary range: $150,000 USD – $220,000 USD.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Savings Matching Program
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&DD)
• 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)

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 the capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.