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Photonics Technical Lead

Lightmatter Boston, MA; Mountain View, CA Full-time Photonics & Silicon Engineering Posted Jun 3, 2026
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What it’s like to work at Lightmatter

Photonic AI Computing · Boston

4
Employee Rating
3.5
Work-Life Balance
45
Open Roles
eng-drivenship-fastproduct-impactlearning

What employees love

  • Building genuinely world-changing photonic AI chips with some of the best engineers in the field
  • Flat, collaborative culture where trust and respect are real — not just posters on the wall

What could be better

  • Startup pace with occasional crisis mode — not for those wanting predictable 9-to-5
  • Compensation can lag behind top-tier tech companies despite the cutting-edge work
View full Lightmatter culture profile →

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. 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 Technical Lead to join our laser development team. In this role, you will develop integrated and highly scalable laser solutions for silicon photonics AI communications and computation. You will work closely with cross-disciplinary engineering teams both internally and across our ecosystem of manufacturing partners to assess the technical feasibility of product requirements, develop an engineering plan to meet architectural specifications, execute new product designs for laser solutions, and validate system performance on hardware.

This role requires a deep understanding of complex multi-domain platforms as well as integrated silicon photonics and the requirements of datacom systems. You will navigate the design space of performance, schedule, reliability, power consumption, and cost, working in tandem with stakeholders across the company to identify optimal and innovative engineering solutions. Creativity, analytical skills, and clear communication skills are a necessity.

Join a tight-knit team where each individual’s contributions directly influence the success of the company and product. You'll have the opportunity to build innovative laser solutions from the ground up and tackle groundbreaking challenges. Work with people who love to build and who thrive in diverse technical environments where great ideas are prioritized.

Responsibilities

Requirements:

Preferred Qualifications:

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.
$210,000$256,000 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the work-life balance like at Lightmatter?
Lightmatter has a work-life balance score of 3.5/5 based on employee reviews. This is about average for the AI/tech industry.
What is Lightmatter’s culture like?
Lightmatter is characterized by these culture values: eng-driven, ship-fast, product-impact, learning. Based on employee reviews, the company has an overall rating of 4/5. Building genuinely world-changing photonic AI chips with some of the best engineers in the field
How many open roles does Lightmatter have?
Lightmatter currently has 45 open roles across departments including engineering, product, sales, and more. Roles are refreshed daily from their careers page.
Is this role remote-friendly?
This role is located in Boston, MA; Mountain View, CA. Check the job description above for specific location and remote work details.
Apply for this role at Lightmatter →