The Photonic Supercomputer Company — Computing with Light
The consensus on Lightmatter: Choose Lightmatter if you want to build genuinely first-of-its-kind hardware at the frontier of AI computing — but expect startup intensity and fast execution.
Lightmatter is building photonic processors that use light instead of electrons to power AI computation — a fundamental shift in how computers work. Founded in 2017 by Nick Harris and Darius Bunandar out of MIT, the company has grown to ~300 people across Boston and Mountain View. The culture is deeply engineering-driven: you're working alongside world-class physicists, chip designers, and systems engineers on problems no one else has solved. Employees describe a collaborative, trust-based environment with a flat hierarchy, but the pace is fast and the stakes are high.
Passage™ — a 3D photonic interconnect that eliminates GPU idle time in AI data centers. Envise™ — a photonic AI accelerator chip. Both use light to move data faster and more efficiently than electrical interconnects.
Integrated photonics, high-speed analog IC design, scalable laser solutions, and ML infrastructure. The team works at the intersection of physics, chip design, and AI systems.
Cross-functional teams spanning hardware, software, and photonics. Engineers work closely with physicists and manufacturing teams. Real ownership with direct impact on products shipping to hyperscale data centers.
Explore open roles at Lightmatter below.