Senior Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer

Lightmatter; Boston, Mountain View (MA, CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement Savings Matching Program

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&

Generous Time Off (Vacation, Sick &amp

Paid Family Leave

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Training & Development

Flexible, hybrid workplace model

Equity grants (applicable to full-time

Job summary

Lightmatter is pioneering photonics-enabled AI data center technology. We are hiring a Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer to develop our internal PDK, create robust models, and ensure accurate simulations of photonic layouts. You will work with Python, EDA tools, and collaborate across design, analog, digital, and architecture teams.

You will design pcells, validate models with lab data, and drive CI/testing. Strong Python skills and background in photonics are required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 5+ years in EE/Photonics or PhD with 3+ years.
• Deep understanding of photonic device physics and device simulation.
• Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators (e.g., Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or Python solvers).
• Proficient in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis; OO programming and scientific libraries.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a library of pcells using Python-based frameworks; ensure sync between layout, nets, and models.
• Create and verify physics-based models for passive and active devices.
• Design test structures and plans for device FOM extraction; collaborate with test engineers for silicon data.
• Validate models against lab measurements; perform data fitting to align parameters with silicon performance.
• Implement regression testing and CI pipelines to protect designs and connectivity logic.
• Collaborate with design, analog, digital and architecture engineers to enable high-impact tape-outs.

Skills

Python for modeling

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Photonics device physics

Education

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering / Photonics / Physics

PhD in Electrical Engineering / Photonics / Physics

Tools

Python-based layout tools (gdstk, GDSFactory, KLayout)

Lumerical INTERCONNECT / Cadence / Synopsys OptSim

Verilog-A / Spectre modeling

Cadence Virtuoso

SAX / Photontorch / Simphony

Job description

Lightmatter is pioneering photonics-enabled AI data center technology. We are hiring a Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer to develop our internal PDK, create robust models, and ensure accurate simulations of photonic layouts. You will work with Python, EDA tools, and collaborate across design, analog, digital, and architecture teams.

You will design pcells, validate models with lab data, and drive CI/testing. Strong Python skills and background in photonics are required.