Embedded Software Engineer, Lasers

Job Title

Embedded Software Engineer, Lasers

Role Summary

Develop firmware and diagnostics for photonic transceiver lasers used in data-center AI interconnects. Work on control, stabilization, telemetry, and bring-up for next-generation optical hardware as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team.

Experience Level

Mid-level - expects several years of embedded software experience (typical range 3–7 years). See Education Requirements for degree-based experience thresholds stated by the hiring team.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include control, diagnostics, and system bring-up for laser/transceiver products.

• Implement and tune active laser control and stabilization algorithms on embedded targets.
• Deliver firmware components for diagnostics, telemetry, and monitoring from requirements through test and release.
• Participate in cross-functional architecture and design discussions with photonic, analog, digital, systems, and network engineers.
• Integrate transceiver management and telemetry with data-center management interfaces (e.g., CMIS, OpenBMC, DMTF/Redfish standards).
• Bring up new hardware and debug embedded systems with GDB, JTAG, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
• Characterize laser behavior using optical test equipment and build automated data collection and test scripts.
• Write clear technical documentation and communicate results to engineers outside the specialty.

Requirements

Concise list of must-have technical skills and product experience; preferred items listed separately.

Must-have

• Proven experience contributing embedded software to a shipped product or production hardware deployment.
• Proficiency in C or C++ and practical use of Python for tooling, test, and analysis.
• Strong hardware–software integration skills; familiarity with common embedded peripherals and buses (I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO).
• Experience developing firmware for resource-constrained environments; experience with bare-metal and RTOS-based systems (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar).
• Hands-on lab debugging experience using GDB, JTAG, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
• Working knowledge of Git and experience with CMake or a comparable build system.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership, work through ambiguity, and deliver in a fast-moving environment.
• Ability to comply with U.S. export control requirements.

Nice-to-have

• Experience with closed-loop control design, simulation, or deployment on real systems.
• Firmware experience for optical transceivers, photonic systems, or precision analog/mixed-signal hardware.
• Familiarity with CMIS, OpenBMC, DMTF/Redfish, or platform-management environments.
• Exposure to optical communications, laser physics, thermal/wavelength stabilization, and optical test methodologies.
• Experience building test automation, hardware-in-the-loop test benches, or CI for firmware.

Education Requirements

Posting specifies degree-based thresholds: BS with 5+ years, MS with 3+ years, or PhD; equivalent practical experience is accepted. Preferred fields: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related technical disciplines.

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.