Package Layout Engineer

Socket.dev; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 157,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care plan

Retirement match

Life Insurance

Generous time off

Family leave

Disability insurance

Training & development

Commuter benefits

Hybrid workplace

Equity grants

Job summary

Lightmatter is seeking a Package Layout Design Engineer to drive next‑gen products from concept to development. You will join the Signal Integrity, Power Integrity and Packaging team to deliver substrate layouts that meet SI/PI/DFM requirements across multiple packaging technologies.

Responsibilities include floorplanning, collaboration with suppliers, and delivering FSM/DFM compliant layouts. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in IC package layout and proficiency with Allegro X APD and related

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field with at least 5 years of experience.
• 3–5 years of IC package layout design experience.
• Proficiency with Allegro X APD and knowledge of IC package substrates.

Responsibilities

• Deliver IC package substrate layouts for standard and advanced packaging technologies.
• Provide floorplanning and preliminary substrate designs to optimize stack-up.
• Collaborate with OSATs and substrate suppliers on layout rules and implementation.

Skills

IC package layout

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

B.S./M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allegro X APD

Cadence Integrity 3DIC

Expedition Package Designer

Pads Layout

Altium

Python or SKILL

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!

About This Role

Lightmatter is looking for a Package Layout Design Engineer to drive the next generation products from concept to development. You will be part of the Signal Integrity, Power Integrity and Packaging team, tasked with delivering substrate layouts that support the package architecture from concept, through design optimization and completion, meeting stringent signal integrity, power integrity, and design for manufacturing requirements. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on new package architectures by solving complex interactions across digital, analog and photonics domains.

Responsibilities

• Deliver IC package substrate layouts for standard and advanced packaging technologies.
• Contribute to the product concept phase by delivering preliminary substrate designs and floorplanning to support overall stack-up (Silicon/package/MB) optimization.
• Collaborate with package substrate suppliers and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) companies to apply layout design rules, stack up, and implementation guidelines.
• Generate fab files and coordinate with substrate suppliers and OSATs to support Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) closure.
• Design package layouts while adhering to signal integrity, power integrity, thermal, and mechanical requirements.
• Design packages incorporating analog and digital elements/interfaces.
• Support signal/power integrity engineers by providing iterative test routes to refine design rules and routing topologies.
• Coordinate across functional teams to execute error‑free Package Design Tape Outs on schedule.
• Support and adapt design automation and verification activities to improve team efficiency.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or similar discipline with at least 5 years of relevant experience
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in IC package layout design.
• Proficient with Allegro X APD.
• Understanding of IC package substrates and organic materials, and their impact on package design.

Preferred Qualifications

• Educational background in IC packaging and substrate layout design.
• Familiarity with system‑level validation tools such as Cadence Integrity 3DIC for package/IC codesign.
• Familiarity with layout tools (e.g., Expedition Package Designer, Pads Layout, Altium, etc.).
• Experience with layout tool scripting languages (e.g., SKILL or Python) to enable design automation.
• Exposure to or interest in early‑stage architectural pathfinding and physical feasibility studies for multi‑chiplet and advanced packaging architectures (2.5D/3D IC, Silicon Interposers, EMIB, Fan‑Out Chip‑on‑Wafer, etc.).
• Experience evaluating floorplans, escape routing, bump patterns (micro‑bumps / hybrid bonding), and die‑to‑die (D2D) interface topologies.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in cross‑functional teams.

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.

$157,000 — $176,000 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.