Jobs / United States / Lightmatter INC
Electro-Optic Link Hardware Engineer
Lightmatter INC · 🇺🇸 Mountain View, CA
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two — worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
- Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 21 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest May 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 1 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Lightmatter INC paid sponsored hires in similar roles4 certified filings for “Sr. Photonics Test Engineer” (Robotics Engineers) in CA: $167k–$215k, median $177k. Most were filed at wage level III (75%) — 3 lottery entries, ≈46% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
A verdict summarises public evidence; it is not legal advice and never a guarantee — the employer and the immigration authority decide. Sign in to factor in where you can already work.
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Sponsor Radar — Lightmatter INC
The US Department of Labor certified 21 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest May 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 1 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Lightmatter INC →
About the role
Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world’s first 3D-stacked photonics engine, Passage™, capable of connecting thousands to millions of processors at the speed of light in extreme-scale data centers for the most advanced AI and HPC workloads. Lightmatter raised $400 million in its Series D round, reaching a valuation of $4.4 billion. We will continue to accelerate the development of data center photonics and grow every department at Lightmatter! If you're passionate about tackling complex challenges, making an impact, and being an expert in your craft, join our team of brilliant scientists, engineers, and accomplished industry leaders. Lightmatter is (re)inventing the future of computing with light! We're looking for a hands-on Photonics engineer to lead verification and characterization of high-speed electro-optic links across multiple silicon and system programs. You'll work at the bench alongside the EOE team owning modeling methodology, measurement standards, and serving as the escalation point for the toughest signal integrity and link-performance problems in the org. Responsibilities: • Run hands-on lab characterization and debug of high-speed electrical/optical hardware, including novel failure modes • Build system-level electrical/optical/EO channel models and correlate them against your own bench measurements • Own link budget and verification methodology while staying hands-on with the validating measurements • Characterize 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 • Mentor Senior/Staff engineers without stepping back from lab work • Build automation/tools to speed up characterization work Qualifications: • MS/PhD in EE, Photonics, Physics (8+ yrs) or BS/MS (10+ yrs) • 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) • Hands-on lab experience leading investigations that stalled others • Strong Python/MATLAB for team-used automation frameworks • Proficiency with VNA, scopes, BERTs, TDRs, and tools like ADS, HFSS, Cadence, COMSOL • Track record mentoring engineers Preferred Qualifications: • Silicon photonics/EO systems at the architecture level • Package/PCB/channel co-design ownership • COM/IBIS-AMI modeling, patents/standards contributions (OIF, IEEE 802.3) We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data. Salary Range: total compensation goes beyond base salary, it also includes a new hire equity grant, annual performance-based equity, and other rewards that recognize your impact and contribution. $155,000 — $190,000 USD 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 • Training & Development • Commuter Benefits • Flexible, hybrid workplace model • Equity grants (applicable to full-time employees) Benefits eligibility may vary depending on your employment status and location. Lightmatter recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. Export Control Candi