Lightmatter

Staff Photonics Design & PDK Modeling Engineer

Mountain View, CA · Staff+ · Full-time

Sponsorship not specified$187k-$220kDetected 5 days ago

PythonObject-Oriented ProgrammingGitCI/CDNumPyStatisticsValuationFEACadenceElectrical EngineeringpytestManual Testing

About the role

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.

Develop and maintain a library of pcells using Python-based layout frameworks. Ensure strict synchronization between physical layout, logical netlists, and behavioral models.
Create and verify behavioral compact models for passive and active devices
Simulation Infrastructure: Build automated workflows that extract parameters from electromagnetic solvers (FDTD/FEM) and package them into the PDK for circuit-level simulation.
Model-Hardware Correlation: Validate simulation 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.
Netlist & Connectivity: Own the logic for netlist extraction, ensuring that the connectivity graph generated by the code perfectly matches the physical intent.
Develop and maintain a library of pcells using Python-based layout frameworks.
In this role, you will lead the development of our internal Process Design Kit (PDK).
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, applying software engineering rigor to the challenges of photonic hardware design.

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.
Python based layout experience.
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).

Familiarity with GDSFactory, OptoCompiler or KLayout Python scripting.
Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems (e.g., SAX, Photontorch, Simphony).
Experience with Git version control, unit testing (pytest), and CI/CD workflows.
Experience in taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits, including familiarity with relevant testing equipment and methodologies.

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.
$187,000 - $220,000 USD

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
Commuter Benefits
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.
Flexible, hybrid workplace model

This listing is sourced directly from Lightmatter's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.