Senior Staff Principal Laser Design Engineer
Lightmatter is a photonic-computing company developing optical interconnects and light engines for AI-scale data centers.
Funding history
About Lightmatter
Founded in 2017 by MIT researchers, Lightmatter develops photonic infrastructure for AI, including its Passage interconnect platform and Guide light engine.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will own high-power laser epitaxy and device designs, including DFB, DBR, and external-cavity architectures. You will optimize layer stacks and laser cavities, model device behavior, translate system needs into designs, correlate characterization data with design parameters, define component specifications, and work with vendors to qualify and transfer designs into volume manufacturing.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or a related discipline with at least 5 years of relevant post-degree experience; M.S. with at least 8 years of relevant experience; or equivalent experience
- Expertise in semiconductor laser and epitaxy design for III-V compound semiconductor devices
- Track record designing DFB, DBR, or external-cavity lasers
- Knowledge of laser physics and semiconductor device physics
- Proficiency with physics-based laser and photonic device simulation tools
- Python data analysis experience
- Ability to independently own complex designs and resolve ambiguous technical issues
- Experience collaborating with characterization, test, and cross-functional hardware teams
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly
Responsibilities
- Own designs for high-power laser epitaxial structures and laser devices
- Design III-V epitaxial layer stacks
- Optimize laser cavity designs for performance and reliability targets
- Contribute to monolithic and silicon-photonics heterogeneously integrated laser and SOA development
- Use simulation tools to model heterostructure, cavity, spectral response, and tuning behavior
- Define test beds and correlate measured characterization data to design parameters
- Define component specifications, optical coupling, and thermal-management strategies with cross-functional engineers
- Specify, qualify, and transfer designs with epitaxy and foundry vendors into volume manufacturing
- Mentor engineers, review designs, and contribute to the laser technology roadmap
- Publish and present novel ideas at photonics conferences
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision health plan
- Retirement savings matching program
- Basic, voluntary, and AD&D life insurance
- Vacation, sick time, and public holidays
- Paid family leave
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- Commuter benefits
- Flexible hybrid workplace model
- Equity grants for eligible full-time employees