Sr. Staff Photonic Hardware Validation Engineer (Bay Area)

As a Sr. Staff Photonic Hardware Validation Engineer at Lightmatter, you will be responsible for developing advanced platform-level validation strategies and plans for our innovative photonics-based AI platform. This includes creating product-specific validation test plans, engaging with design teams to influence product development, and establishing validation automation capabilities. You'll also support customer deployments and address any related technical issues, ensuring the reliability and performance of our cutting-edge technology.

Candidates for the Sr. Staff Photonic Hardware Validation Engineer role at Lightmatter should possess a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field, along with at least 12 years of industry experience in photonics and semiconductor products. Essential qualifications include a minimum of 7 years of exposure to silicon and system validation, and 5+ years of experience in validation content and script development using Python or C++. A deep understanding of photonics and laser design is crucial for this position.

In the Senior Staff Photonic Hardware Validation Engineer role at Lightmatter, the validation process begins early in product development with setting up pre-silicon simulation milestones. You will collaborate with design teams to ensure validation hooks are included, which helps in post-silicon validation. You'll monitor and execute comprehensive tests during the validation phase in our facilities, focusing on both functionality and performance to support our cutting-edge products effectively.

To excel as a Sr. Staff Photonic Hardware Validation Engineer at Lightmatter, candidates should have extensive experience with silicon and system validation, coupled with strong technical abilities in Python or C++ for script development. A deep understanding of photonics, laser design, advanced packaging techniques, and hands-on experience with post-silicon chip validation is crucial for the role, enabling you to navigate and resolve complex technical challenges effectively.

Lightmatter offers a comprehensive benefits package for employees in the Sr. Staff Photonic Hardware Validation Engineer role, including a competitive salary range of $203,000—$240,000. Additionally, you'll enjoy a health care plan (medical, dental, and vision), retirement savings matching, generous time off, paid family leave, and opportunities for training and development, all of which contribute to a supportive and flexible work environment.

When answering this question, be specific about your hands-on experience with post-silicon validation processes, highlighting any techniques you used for debugging and triaging issues. Discuss specific projects or products you worked on and the impact your validation work had on the overall development process.

In your response, discuss your approach to creating validation test plans, including collaboration with design and engineering teams. Be sure to highlight how you tailor these plans to meet product specifications and ensure thorough testing of functionality and performance.

Emphasize your commitment to continuous learning through various channels. This can include attending industry conferences, reading technical publications, or participating in online courses. Mention any specific areas of photonics or semiconductor technology that you find particularly exciting and how they might impact your work.

This is your chance to showcase your problem-solving skills. Describe the specific issue, the steps you took for troubleshooting, and the outcome. Highlight the techniques and tools you used and how collaboration with your team contributed to the solution.

When discussing your prioritization process, explain how you assess project timelines, resource availability, and critical milestones. You can mention tools or methodologies you use for effective project management, and discuss how you adapt when unexpected challenges arise.

Emphasize the importance of collaboration in your work. Detail how you communicate and work with cross-functional teams to ensure that all aspects of the project align with validation efforts, leading to successful product outcomes.

Share a specific example of how your input positively impacted product design. Discuss the changes you recommended, whether it was including validation hooks or making adjustments for performance improvements, and the results of those changes.

Identify specific tools and technologies that you have experience with, such as hardware testing equipment, simulation software, or validation automation frameworks. Discuss how these tools enhance your validation testing and contribute to product success.

Discuss strategies you employ to manage deadlines effectively, such as advanced planning, time management techniques, or prioritizing critical tasks. Highlight your ability to remain calm under pressure and ensure quality validation work despite tight schedules.

This is your opportunity to express your passion for the field. Discuss specific elements, such as working on innovative technology, collaborating with talented teams, or the satisfaction of seeing a product successfully validate and come to market.