Demo

Lead Photonic Engineer

Lightfinder
Cambridge, MA Full Time
POSTED ON 4/21/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/17/2026

Company Description

Lightfinder is an MIT-spinout developing chip-scale spectrometers that deliver lab-grade optical sensing in a miniaturized, scalable form. Built on silicon photonics and paired with intelligent software, the platform enables real-time analysis in places legacy systems can't reach—from factory floors to hospitals—powering decisions in energy, manufacturing, datacommunications, healthcare, and beyond.


Role Description

We're hiring our third technical team member to lead photonic IC design through tapeout and own the path from die to shippable module. This is an early role with founding-team equity. This is a full-time, on-site position based in Cambridge, MA.


Qualifications

  • PhD in EE, applied physics, optics, or related, with integrated photonics focus
  • PIC tapeout experience in a foundry
  • Fluency in PIC design tools (Lumerical, KLayout)
  • A working sense of packaging, fiber attach, and real-world translation
  • Photonic test experience
  • The instinct and interest to think three steps ahead — about the chip design, the test plan, and the customer
  • Bonus: spectrometer or light source experience; prior early-stage startup experience


Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Lightfinder does not sponsor employment visas at this time.

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