Chip Firmware Validation Engineer
Lightmatter — Tracked from its greenhouse job board
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 are hiring a Chip Firmware Validation Engineer to help us build the next generation of photonic AI processors and interconnects.
In this role, you will be responsible for developing and validating the device software and firmware stack for Photonic Compute and Photonic Interconnect products. You will collaborate with other software and hardware systems teams to develop firmware, conduct validation and reliability testing, perform data analysis, and execute further software stack optimization.
Join a tight-knit team where each individual’s contributions directly impact the success of the company and our innovative products. At Lightmatter, you’ll have the opportunity to work with people who love to build and who thrive in technically diverse environments where great ideas are valued and prioritized.
Responsibilities
Collaborate across a multidisciplinary team including photonics, analog, digital, systems, and network experts to define the control architecture for Lightmatter's photonic interconnect products.
Drive the software and firmware validation testing for our photonic products.
Debug and troubleshoot embedded systems using tools such as GDB, JTAG, and logic analyzers.
Participate in defining product architecture and validation test plans definition to gather requirements and usability criteria.
Qualifications
BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with 5+ years of experience in ASIC firmware validation.
Strong understanding of hardware-software integration.
Practical knowledge of communication and control in embedded systems, peripherals, and buses.
Experience in embedded software development.
Experience developing commercial or enterprise-level software and firmware on Linux.
Experience with Git and CMake for building and managing software projects.
Hands-on experience with data gathering, analysis, and reporting.
Proficiency with Python, C, C++ and MongoDB.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with Snowflake reporting software
Experience with environments such as CMIS and OpenBMC, and familiarity with validation and reliability/FIT(Failure in Time) testing.
Familiarity with optical test, measurement and methodologies for characterizing optical components and systems.
Experience developing firmware for photonic transceivers or similar systems.
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.
$185,000 $245,000 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.
What the index says about this role
- First seen by JobLarper — Aug 6, 2026, 2 days ago. Still inside the window where applications get read by a human rather than a pile.
- No pay range in our index for this listing. Across 1,685 indexed Software Engineer roles in US that do publish one, the middle half sits between $185k and $285k, median $225k — JobLarper's read of the market, not a figure from Lightmatter.
- What Software Engineer roles ask for — across 10,230 indexed openings: REST/APIs (46%), Backend (42%), Cloud (38%), Python (38%), Go (25%). This posting names Python.
- Lightmatter is hiring actively — 35 open roles indexed.
Derived from the 27,000 roles JobLarper indexes daily from official company boards — not from the job description above.
More open roles at Lightmatter
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- Electrical Design EngineerMountain View, CA · Mid
- Staff Photonics Design EngineerBoston, MA; Mountain View, CA · Senior+
- Senior Technical Program ManagerMountain View, CA · Manager
- Staff Photonics Design EngineerBoston, MA; Mountain View, CA · Senior+
- Photonics ArchitectToronto, ON · Senior+
- Photonics ArchitectBoston, MA; Mountain View, CA · Senior+
- Staff Embedded Software EngineerMountain View, CA · Senior+
All 35 open roles at Lightmatter →
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