Hardware Verification Engineer — Electro-Optic Links

Lightmatter; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 195,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement Savings Matching Program

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&

Generous Time Off

Paid Family Leave

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Training & Development

Flexible, hybrid workplace model

Equity grants

Job summary

Lightmatter is seeking a hands-on Hardware Verification engineer to lead verification and characterization of high-speed electro-optic links across silicon and system programs. You'll work at the bench alongside the EOE team owning modeling methodology, measurement standards, and serving as the escalation point for the toughest signal-integrity and link-performance problems in the org.

Responsibilities include hands-on lab characterization, building system-level models, owning link budgets, and

Qualifications

• MS/PhD in EE, Photonics, Physics with 8+ years, or BS/MS with 10+ years.
• Ownership of verification strategy for a full silicon/system program.
• Deep expertise in 56G/112G/224G+ serial links and SerDes equalization; signal integrity knowledge.
• Hands-on lab experience leading investigations that stalled others.
• Strong Python/MATLAB for automation.
• Proficiency with VNA, scopes, BERTs, TDRs; tools like ADS, HFSS, Cadence, COMSOL.
• Track record mentoring engineers.

Responsibilities

• Run hands-on lab characterization and debug of high-speed electrical/optical hardware.
• Build system-level electrical/optical/EO channel models and correlate with bench measurements.
• Own link budget and verification methodology while validating measurements.
• Characterize eye diagrams, BER, jitter, equalization, and channel impairments.
• Support silicon bring-up and root-cause debug with analog, package, PCB, and SerDes teams.
• Influence chip/package/system architecture tradeoffs based on bench findings.
• Mentor Senior/Staff engineers while staying hands-on in the lab.
• Build automation/tools to speed up characterization work.

Skills

Ownership of verification strategy

Serial links 56G/112G/224G+

Python/MATLAB automation

Lab investigations leadership

VNA, scopes, BERTs, TDRs proficiency

Mentoring engineers

Education

MS/PhD in EE, Photonics or Physics (≥8 years)

BS/MS (≥10 years)

Tools

ADS

HFSS

Cadence

COMSOL

VNA

Oscilloscopes

BERTs

TDRs

Job description

Hardware Verification Engineer — Electro-Optic Links

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're looking for a hands‑on Hardware Verification engineer to lead verification and characterization of high‑speed electro‑optic links across multiple silicon and system programs. You'll work at the bench alongside the EOE team owning modeling methodology, measurement standards, and serving as the escalation point for the toughest signal‑integrity and link‑performance problems in the org.

Responsibilities

• Run hands‑on lab characterization and debug of high‑speed electrical/optical hardware, including novel failure modes
• Build system‑level electrical/optical/EO channel models and correlate them against your own bench measurements
• Own link budget and verification methodology while staying hands‑on with the validating measurements
• Characterize eye diagrams, BER, jitter, equalization, and channel impairments
• Support silicon bring‑up and root‑cause debug with analog, package, PCB, and SerDes teams
• Influence chip/package/system architecture tradeoffs based on bench findings
• Mentor Senior/Staff engineers without stepping back from lab work
• Build automation/tools to speed up characterization work

Qualifications

• MS/PhD in EE, Photonics, Physics (≥8 years) or BS/MS (≥10 years)
• Ownership of verification strategy for a full silicon/system program
• Deep expertise in 56G/112G/224G+ serial links, SerDes equalization (CTLE/FFE/DFE), and signal‑integrity (S‑parameters, crosstalk, link budgets)
• Hands‑on lab experience leading investigations that stalled others
• Strong Python/MATLAB for team‑used automation frameworks
• Proficiency with VNA, scopes, BERTs, TDRs, and tools like ADS, HFSS, Cadence, COMSOL
• Track record mentoring engineers

Preferred Qualifications

• Silicon photonics/EO systems at the architecture level
• COM/IBIS‑AMI modeling, patents/standards contributions (OIF, IEEE 802.3)

Compensation

We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role is determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data.

Salary Range: $195,000 – $250,000 USD

Salary includes a new‑hire equity grant, annual performance‑based equity, and other rewards that recognize your impact and contribution.

Benefits

• 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)

Employment Eligibility

Lightmatter observes a hybrid work model for positions based in one of our office locations. Candidates must be able to work from the office at least 3 × per week.

Export Control

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

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.