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← Lightmatter

Staff Photonics Design & PDK Modeling Engineer

Lightmatter
Location
Mountain View, CA
Posted
2 months ago
Department
Photonics & Silicon Engineering
What they actually want (must-haves)
  • Master’s +5 years experience or PhD +3 years experience in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field
  • Deep understanding of photonic device physics and experience in device simulation
  • Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators (e.g., Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or custom Python solvers)
  • Experienced in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis
  • Python based layout experience
Nice to have
  • Familiarity with GDSFactory, OptoCompiler or KLayout Python scripting
  • Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems (e.g., SAX, Photontorch, Simphony)
  • Experience with Git version control, unit testing (pytest), and CI/CD workflows
  • Prior experience in performing physical layout using foundry-provided process design kits (PDKs)
  • Experience in taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits
What the job really is

As a Staff Photonics Design Engineer at Lightmatter, you will lead the development of the internal Process Design Kit (PDK) and create robust compact models for photonic components. Your daily tasks will involve developing a library of pcells using Python, validating simulation models against lab measurements, and implementing automated workflows for circuit-level simulation. You will also ensure synchronization between physical layouts and logical netlists while managing the logic for netlist extraction.

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
Things to weigh
  • No specific mention of team size or structure, which may impact collaboration dynamics
  • Salary range provided, but total compensation details are broad and may vary significantly based on individual negotiations
  • The role requires a strong background in both photonics and software engineering, which may limit the candidate pool
  • Candidates must comply with U.S. export control laws, which may affect eligibility for some applicants
Job score2.8/5
Benefits5/5
Freshness1/5
Career value4/5
Role clarity4/5
Pay transparency0/5

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