Electro-Optic Link Hardware Engineer

Lightmatter • Boston, MA

17d • $150,000 - $207,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Lightmatter is seeking a hands-on photonics engineer to lead verification and characterization of high-speed electro-optic links across silicon and system programs. The engineer will work in the lab with the EOE team, own modeling methodology and measurement standards, and serve as an escalation point for challenging signal-integrity and link-performance issues. The role combines bench characterization and debugging with system-level modeling, verification strategy, silicon bring-up support, architecture input, mentoring, and automation development.

Lightmatter develops data-center photonics, including its 3D-stacked Passage™ photonics engine, for AI and high-performance computing workloads. The company describes this position as offering competitive compensation, including a base salary range of $150,000–$207,000, a new-hire equity grant, annual performance-based equity, and other rewards. Its benefits include health coverage, retirement matching, insurance, paid time off, paid family leave, disability coverage, training and development, commuter benefits, and a flexible hybrid workplace model. Equity grants apply to full-time employees; benefit eligibility may depend on employment status and location.

Requirements

• MS or PhD in EE, Photonics, or Physics with 8+ years of experience, or BS/MS with 10+ years of experience.
• Ownership of verification strategy for a full silicon or system program.
• Deep expertise in 56G/112G/224G+ serial links, SerDes equalization (CTLE/FFE/DFE), and signal integrity, including S-parameters, crosstalk, and link budgets.
• Hands-on lab experience leading investigations that had stalled others.
• Strong Python or MATLAB skills for automation frameworks used by a team.
• Proficiency with VNAs, oscilloscopes, BERTs, TDRs, and tools such as ADS, HFSS, Cadence, and COMSOL.
• Track record of mentoring engineers.
• Capacity to comply with federally mandated U.S. export control requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Silicon photonics or electro-optic systems experience at the architecture level.
• Package, PCB, and channel co-design ownership.
• COM/IBIS-AMI modeling experience.
• Patents or standards contributions, such as to OIF or IEEE 802.3.

Responsibilities

• Run hands-on lab characterization and debug of high-speed electrical and optical hardware, including novel failure modes.
• Build system-level electrical, optical, and electro-optic channel models and correlate them against bench measurements.
• Own link-budget and verification methodology while conducting validating measurements.
• Characterize eye diagrams, BER, jitter, equalization, and channel impairments.
• Support silicon bring-up and root-cause debugging with analog, package, PCB, and SerDes teams.
• Influence chip, package, and system architecture tradeoffs based on bench findings.
• Mentor Senior and Staff engineers while remaining hands-on in the lab.
• Build automation and tools to accelerate characterization work.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care plan (medical, dental, and vision).
• Retirement savings matching program.
• Life insurance (basic, voluntary, and AD&D).
• Vacation, sick time, and public holidays.
• Paid family leave.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Training and development.
• Commuter benefits.
• Flexible, hybrid workplace model.
• New-hire equity grant and annual performance-based equity; equity grants apply to full-time employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior