Staff Data Systems Engineer

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!

About this Role

We're looking for a Senior Data Systems Engineer who bridges the gap between hardware domain expertise and modern data infrastructure. You won't just build pipelines — you'll work directly with foundries, OSATs, test engineers, and validation teams to understand what the data means, define how it should flow, and build the platform that makes AI-driven decisions possible across 13+ active hardware programs.

This is not a typical data engineering role. The right person has a background in semiconductor manufacturing, photonics, hardware test/validation, or a related hardware discipline — and a strong pull toward data systems, process optimization, and automation. You understand that the hardest part of a data platform isn't the code; it's knowing which data matters and why.

What You'll Do

Program Data Onboarding & Vendor Engagement

Engage directly with foundries, OSATs, and internal engineering teams to align on data formats, delivery mechanisms, and quality standards for new programs

Own the data onboarding lifecycle for programs ramping to High Volume Manufacturing (HVM)

Identify gaps in data coverage across the pipeline: design, foundry, test/validation, photonics characterization, packaging/assembly, and system-level validation

Influence external and internal teams to adopt scalable, platform-compatible data practices — this is hands-on stakeholder work, not email coordination

Data Platform Engineering

Design, build, and maintain data pipelines that ingest, transform, and deliver hardware data from wafer-level test through system validation

Build and maintain data models in dbt on Snowflake that serve downstream analytics, reporting, and AI/ML workflows

Develop and operate orchestration workflows (Dagster) for reliable, observable data delivery

Implement data quality checks, monitoring, and alerting to ensure platform reliability across production programs

Performance Metrics & Reporting

Build performance metrics pipelines that translate raw hardware data into actionable insights for engineering and program teams

Own stakeholder reporting and deliver training for teams onboarding to platform tools (Snowflake, Sigma, custom dashboards)

Support AI/ML workflows by ensuring the data foundation is clean, structured, and reliable

Platform Improvement & Tooling

Contribute to platform infrastructure: CI/CD, RBAC, cost optimization, self-service tooling

Participate in sprint ceremonies, contribute to architectural decisions, and help shape the team's technical roadmap

Mentor junior team members on both data engineering practices and hardware domain context

What You Bring

Required

Bachelor’s Degree in Photonics, Data Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related field

8+ years of professional experience in data engineering, process engineering, test engineering, or a related technical role in semiconductor, photonics, or hardware manufacturing

Proficiency in Python and SQL

Experience with Snowflake, dbt, Dagster/Airflow, or similar modern data stack components

Experience working with data for hardware test, manufacturing, or characterization systems

Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with technical teams and external partners (vendors, foundries, or OSATs) to define data requirements and influence practices

Strong analytical thinking — you can look at a dataset and understand what it means in the physical world, not just how to transform it

Preferred

Master’s or PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Photonics, or a related field with 4+ years of experience

Background in silicon photonics, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), or optical systems

Experience with High Volume Manufacturing (HVM) ramps or new product introduction (NPI) data workflows

Familiarity with semiconductor test data formats (STDF, WAT, parametric data)

Experience building data quality frameworks or monitoring systems

Experience with AI/ML tools applied to manufacturing or engineering data

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.

$196,000—$217,000 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

Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.