Embedded Software Engineer

Lightmatter • Boston, MA

3h • $125,000 - $145,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Lightmatter develops photonic interconnect chips for large-scale AI compute clusters. The Embedded Software Engineer develops control, telemetry, monitoring, and stabilization firmware to maintain the health and lock of optical transceivers, as well as tooling for system bring-up. The role collaborates with systems, digital, analog, and photonics engineers to develop firmware components across their lifecycle, from requirements through final release.

Requirements

• Experience delivering firmware to production hardware or customers, with clear ownership of specific components.
• Proficiency in C or C++ on resource-constrained targets and Python for prototyping, test creation, and data analysis.
• Solid understanding of embedded communication buses and peripherals, including SPI, I2C, GPIO, and UART, and hardware-software co-integration.
• Hands-on lab debugging skills using JTAG/GDB, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
• Familiarity with Git and build toolchains such as CMake.
• BS or MS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• At least 2 years of professional experience in embedded software engineering.
• Capacity to comply with federally mandated U.S. export control requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing bare-metal firmware and working with RTOS environments such as Zephyr or FreeRTOS.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test setups, test automation, or firmware CI pipelines.
• Knowledge of Embedded Linux and device driver development.
• Experience working with optical transceivers, photonic platforms, or high-precision analog/mixed-signal hardware.
• Domain understanding in laser physics or wavelength and thermal control systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop optical transceiver firmware modules through requirements, bring-up, testing, and release, covering control, telemetry, diagnostics, and monitoring.
• Implement and refine photonic control and stabilization loops on embedded targets in partnership with analog and photonics design teams.
• Partner with hardware engineers during new board bring-up, using lab tools to debug.
• Participate in control and diagnostics design reviews and document findings for cross-functional engineering teams.
• Work independently with guidance at key project milestones.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care plan, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement savings matching program.
• Life insurance, including basic, voluntary, and AD&D coverage.
• 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.
• Equity grants for eligible full-time employees.
• New hire equity grant and annual performance-based equity.

What This Job Offers

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