Demo

Photonics Architect

Lightmatter
Boston, MA Full Time
POSTED ON 9/19/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/13/2026
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 Architect. The selected candidate will partner with the internal engineering team to deliver groundbreaking products to the market. As an architect, you will provide detailed technical documents that describe what needs to be built to the engineering team. This will require a solid understanding of process technology, state of the art in photonics design, and clear communication skills. In this role, you will be defining the (micro-)architecture for a ground-breaking photonic-based communication fabric. From component-level design to top-level layout, you will be part of a team that a

Responsibilities

  • Propose innovative photonic designs—modulators, receivers, multiplexers, lasers, amplifiers—for the product.
  • Work closely with the photonic engineering design team to provide the performance, power, and area estimates of the photonic devices within Passage.
  • Actively collaborate with the analog engineering team to provide a high-bandwidth photonic interconnect solution.
  • Author, review, and validate architectural specifications.

Qualifications

  • PhD in electrical engineering, physics, applied physics, or a discipline related to photonics.
  • In-depth knowledge of photonic devices and semiconductor physics.
  • Experience with integrated silicon photonics components. Preferably has experience with photonic simulation tools: FDTD, umerical, Verilog-A, VPI Photonics.
  • Ability and desire to collaborate in a cross-disciplinary team.
  • Demonstrated strong problem solving skills specifically pertaining to problems that do not have obvious solutions.

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.: $150,000 USD - $220,000 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.

Salary.com Estimation for Photonics Architect in Boston, MA
$130,198 to $159,054
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Photonics Architect?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Photonics Architect career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$89,966 - $112,616
Income Estimation: 
$118,163 - $145,996
Income Estimation: 
$120,777 - $151,022
Income Estimation: 
$129,363 - $167,316
Income Estimation: 
$86,891 - $130,303
Income Estimation: 
$111,195 - $140,107
Income Estimation: 
$151,084 - $181,738
Income Estimation: 
$133,507 - $160,824
Income Estimation: 
$136,663 - $175,160
Income Estimation: 
$157,953 - $182,694

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the Photonics Architect.

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

  • Competitor Analysis Skill

    • Income Estimation: $290,308 - $452,842
    • Income Estimation: $299,015 - $484,586
  • Computer Aided Design (CAD) Skill

    • Income Estimation: $111,181 - $183,733
    • Income Estimation: $119,360 - $163,058
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Lightmatter

  • Lightmatter Boston, MA
  • Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world’s f... more
  • 11 Days Ago

  • Lightmatter Boston, MA
  • Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world’s f... more
  • 11 Days Ago

  • Lightmatter Boston, MA
  • Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world’s f... more
  • 13 Days Ago

  • Lightmatter Boston, MA
  • Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world's f... more
  • 1 Day Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Photonics Architect jobs in the Boston, MA area that may be a better fit.

  • Brightlight Photonics Cambridge, MA
  • Responsibilities Co-lead the photonics engineering process from idea conception to device characterization, including: literature research, device design, ... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • MIT Lincoln Laboratory Lexington, MA
  • The RF and Integrated Photonics Group (Group 85) is committed to advancing technologies in the national interest by harnessing novel RF and photonic capabi... more
  • 11 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!