Staff Photonics Design & PDK Modeling Engineer

Job Title

Staff Photonics Design & PDK Modeling Engineer

Role Summary

Lead development of the internal photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) and component library. Bridge device physics, layout, and system-level simulation by creating compact behavioral models, automated extraction flows, and verification infrastructure.

Work primarily in Python to build pcells, simulation packaging, model-hardware correlation, and CI-regression that ensure accurate circuit-level simulation of physical photonic layouts.

Experience Level

Senior-level (Staff). See Education Requirements for degree and years guidance.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include building and maintaining the PDK, models, and automation that connect layout to system simulation and lab verification.

• Develop and maintain Python-based pcells and layout frameworks; ensure sync between layout, netlists, and behavioral models.
• Create and verify compact behavioral models for passive and active photonic devices.
• Build automated workflows to extract parameters from electromagnetic solvers (FDTD/FEM) and package them for circuit-level simulation.
• Validate and correlate models with lab measurements; perform data fitting and statistical analysis.
• Implement regression tests and CI pipelines to prevent regressions in the PDK and connectivity logic.
• Own netlist extraction logic to ensure connectivity graphs match physical intent.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for successful performance in this role.

• Deep understanding of photonic device physics and experience with device simulation and model development.
• Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators or custom Python-based solvers.
• Proficient in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis; comfortable with OOP and scientific libraries (NumPy, SciPy).
• Experience with Python-based layout tools and scripting for layout automation.
• Experience creating automated extraction workflows linking EM solvers to PDK components.
• Experience validating simulation models against measurements and performing parameter fitting and statistical analysis.
• Familiarity with version control, unit testing, and CI/CD to support automated verification.
• Ability to handle complex projects and coordinate multiple design priorities and timelines.
• Must be able to comply with U.S. export control requirements where applicable.

Nice-to-have:

• Familiarity with GDSFactory, OptoCompiler, or KLayout Python scripting.
• Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems (e.g., SAX, Photontorch, Simphony).
• Prior experience using foundry PDKs, taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits, or inverse design.

Education Requirements

Master’s degree plus ~5 years of relevant experience, or PhD plus ~3 years of relevant experience in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or a related technical field.

Compensation: Base salary range $187,000—$220,000 USD (total compensation may include equity and other components).

Location: Mountain View, CA; flexible hybrid workplace model.

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.