Electro-Optic Link Hardware Engineer
LightmatterJob Title
Electro-Optic Link Hardware Engineer
Role Summary
Hands-on photonics/electro-optic engineer responsible for verification and characterization of high-speed electro-optic links across silicon and system programs. The role leads bench measurements, defines measurement standards and modeling methodology, and serves as an escalation point for signal-integrity and link-performance issues.
Works closely with analog, package, PCB, and SerDes teams to influence chip/package/system tradeoffs. Role operates in a hybrid Mountain View, CA environment.
Experience Level
Senior - requires substantial industry experience (see Education Requirements for the posting's years-of-experience guidance).
Responsibilities
Lead lab-based verification, measurement, and debugging of high-speed electro-optic links and related modeling and automation.
- Perform hands-on characterization and debug of electrical, optical, and electro-optic hardware; investigate novel failure modes.
- Develop system-level electrical/optical/EO channel models and correlate them with bench measurements.
- Own link budgets, verification methodology, and validation measurements.
- Measure and analyze eye diagrams, BER, jitter, equalization, and channel impairments.
- Support silicon bring-up and root-cause debug with analog, package, PCB, and SerDes teams.
- Influence chip/package/system architecture tradeoffs based on bench findings and mentor other engineers while remaining hands-on.
- Build automation and tools to accelerate characterization work.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills, hands-on lab experience, and verification ownership.
- Ownership of verification strategy for a full silicon/system program.
- Deep expertise in 56G/112G/224G+ serial links, SerDes equalization (CTLE/FFE/DFE), and signal integrity (S-parameters, crosstalk, link budgets).
- Proven track record of leading hands-on lab investigations and resolving complex issues.
- Strong Python or MATLAB skills for team automation frameworks.
- Proficiency with VNA, oscilloscopes, BERTs, TDRs and simulation/EM tools such as ADS, HFSS, Cadence, COMSOL.
- Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership.
- Ability to comply with U.S. export control requirements.
Education Requirements
MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics (typical expectation with ~8+ years of experience) or BS/MS with ~10+ years of experience. Advanced degrees are preferred but equivalent industry experience is acceptable for senior candidates.
About the Company
Company: Lightmatter
Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Lightmatter develops photonic AI data-center infrastructure and optical chips for extreme-scale AI and HPC. The company invented the Passage 3D‑stacked photonics engine to provide high-bandwidth, low-latency interconnects across large-scale processors and raised $400M in Series D financing at a reported $4.4B valuation.
