Staff Electrical Design Engineer
Lightmatter · San Francisco Bay Area
📍 Mountain View, CA💰 $186,000via greenhousePosted 2026-06-03
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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!
Staff Electrical Design Engineer
About this Role
We are looking for a Senior Electrical Design Engineer to contribute to the development of the next generation of silicon photonics based artificial intelligence accelerators and interconnect products.
In this role, you will lead board and system solutions that leverage Lightmatter’s technology to enable advanced machine learning, artificial intelligence, and large-scale interconnect platforms.
You will lead and own HW systems efforts, collaborate closely with teams across hardware and software, including mechanical, packaging, and IC engineering, to design, integrate, troubleshoot and release system-level products at the leading edge of innovation.
Responsibilities
Collaborate with the system architect and technical leads to define system-level hardware requirements and spec
Electrical design of power, memory, and interconnect circuits, working in both the analog and digital domains
Identify electrical and optical components to fit the application based on specifications provided by the IC and photonics engineering teams
Starting from fundamental concepts and system considerations you will develop conceptual designs, physical modeling, and simulations of chip-modules and systems
Oversee and review PCB layout designs, providing complete and detailed electrical constraint rules
Ensure the board and system is manufacturable to the latest technologies with high yield and robustness
Qualification of chip and system electrical properties
Perform laboratory validation of boards and systems
Lead integration with mechanical, software, IC, and other related teams
Support contract manufacturing during prototype and production phase to resolve any issues
Work with component vendors and other supply partners
Research new components, processes, and technologies to meet product goals
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering
8+ years of related experience in system-level electrical design, having successfully taken several products from concept to production.
Proficient in schematic design using Cadence, Mentor, or Altium tool set (Altium preferred)
In depth knowledge on VRMs, high speed SERDES, CPUs and various interfaces/protocols such as PCIe, Ethernet, QSPI, I3C, I2C, etc
5+ years of experience in lab experimentation, non-intrusive circuit debugging, and leading cross-functional integration teams
Experience in working with thermal solutions for integrated circuits and their board level systems
Familiar with Product Lifecycle Management tools, e.g. Oracle Agile, Arena, or Omnify PLM with an understanding of BOM and ECO management
Preferred Qualifications
Experience designing electrical systems for networking or similar industries
Knowledge of integrated circuit layout, and designing a carrier PCBA for it
Knowledge of common manufacturing and design processes
Familiarity with Systems Engineering principles
Familiar with 3D Mechanical CAD tools, e.g. Solidworks or AutoCAD
This role is open to two levels Staff and Sr Staff. Leveling placement and salary range is dependent on education, years of experience, and interview performance.
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. $186,000 — $250,000 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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