Staff Photonics Design & PDK Modeling Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Flexible, hybrid workplace model

Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Med/DV

Retirement Savings Matching Program

Job summary

Lightmatter is pioneering AI data center photonics. We seek a Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer to develop internal PDKs, Python-based pcells, and robust device models.

You’ll bridge photonics device design with system verification, using Python and EDA tools to ensure accurate layout-to-simulation alignment. You will collaborate with design and architecture teams on tape-outs, validate models against silicon data, and contribute to scalable photonic IC development.

Qualifications

• Master’s +5 years experience or PhD +3 years in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field.
• Deep understanding of photonic device physics and device simulation experience.
• Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators (Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or Python solvers).
• Experienced in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis with SciPy/NumPy.
• Python-based layout experience.
• Strong problem-solving skills for non-obvious challenges.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Python programming

Data analysis

Object-oriented programming

Lumerical INTERCONNECT|Cadence|Synops"

Python-based layout

Numerical modeling

Education

Master’s degree

PhD in relevant field

Tools

gdstk

GDSFactory

KLayout

Cadence Virtuoso

Verilog-A/Spectre modeling

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 Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will develop our internal Process Design Kit (PDK). You will act as the architect of our component library, bridging the gap between photonics device design and system-level verification. You will develop robust compact models for active and passive components, ensuring that our simulation environment accurately predicts the behavior of our physical layouts. You will work heavily in Python, EDA tools, applying software engineering rigor to the challenges of photonic hardware design.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a library of pcells using Python-based frameworks. Ensure strict synchronization between physical layout, logical netlists, and behavioral models.
• Create and verify physics based behavior models for passive and active devices.
• Design test structure, develop test plans for device FOMs extraction. Work with test engineers to get silicon data.
• Validate models against lab measurements. Perform data fitting and statistical analysis to align model parameters with real-world silicon performance.
• Automated Verification: Implement regression testing and Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines to ensure PDK updates do not break legacy designs or connectivity logic.
• Actively collaborate with design, analog, digital and architecture engineers to deliver high impact tape-outs

Qualifications

• Master’s +5 years experience or PhD +3 years experience in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field.
• Deep understanding of photonic device physics and experience in device simulation.
• Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators (e.g., Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or custom Python solvers).
• Experienced in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis. Comfortable with object-oriented programming and scientific libraries (NumPy, SciPy).
• Python based layout experience.
• Demonstrated strong problem solving skills for problems without obvious solutions

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency with python-based layout tools such as gdstk, GDSFactory, and KLayout
• Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems (e.g., SAX, Photontorch, Simphony).
• Experience with verilogA/spectre equivalent circuit modeling for photonics device
• Prior experience in using foundry-provided process design kits (PDKs), adhering to specific design rules and constraints, well understanding of DRC, LVS, etc.
• Experience working on large-scale designs using industry standard environments such as Cadence Virtuoso
• Experience in taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits, including familiarity with relevant testing equipment and methodologies.
• Possess strong project execution skills, demonstrating the ability to effectively manage multiple design priorities, adhere to project timelines, and meet critical milestones.

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.: $185,000 USD - $220,000 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.