Staff QA Engineer, Lightmatter
Embedded Systems
+ Equity grants
Light-powered AI computing
Open for applications
Light-powered AI computing
201-500 employees
Open for applications
+ Equity grants
201-500 employees
Company mission
Lightmatter's mission is to build an engine that will power discoveries, drive progress, and redefine what computers and human beings are capable of.
Role
Who you are
- BS and 8+ years of experience, or MS and 6+ years of experience
- Familiarity with embedded development and test environments, including proficiency with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) concepts and usage, and understanding of software testing methodologies and best practices for embedded systems
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or CircleCI, and experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing
- Experience with scripting languages like Python or Bash for test automation
- Experience with PyTest, CppUtest, static analysis and other test frameworks
- Knowledge of embedded system architectures and hardware interfaces
- Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including hardware and software engineers
- Familiarity with version control systems like GitHub, GitLab or BitBucket
- Experience with issue tracking systems like Jira, GitHub Issues or Bugzilla
- Knowledge of common testing and debugging tools, such as JTAG debuggers (e.g., Lauterbach TRACE32), oscilloscopes (e.g., Tektronix), and protocol analyzers (e.g., Wireshark, Saleae, Aardvark)
- Ability to analyze and report on test results and metrics
- Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws
Desirable
- Understanding of embedded Linux and driver development
- Knowledge of peripheral buses and communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, and Ethernet
- Experience in developing test plans and test cases for embedded software using tools like TestRail or Zephyr Scale
- Experience with performance testing and optimization of embedded systems
- Knowledge of security testing practices for embedded devices
- Experience in forming and leading a QA team, including mentoring team members and developing project schedules
- Ability to report progress and metrics to leadership, and contribute to strategic planning for QA processes
What the job involves
- We are hiring a talented software QA engineer to help us build the next generation of photonic AI processors and interconnects
- In this role, you will be responsible for planning and automating device software and firmware testing capabilities for Photonic Compute and Photonic interconnect products
- You will collaborate with other software teams and hardware systems teams to enhance the delivery of quality software
- You will leverage your skills with standard methodologies and tools to effectively implement industry best practices in our environment
- Develop and execute comprehensive test plans and test cases for embedded software and systems
- Set up and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment
- Conduct Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing to simulate real-world scenarios
- Utilize JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers to identify and diagnose issues
- Track and manage defects using issue tracking systems like Jira or GitHub issues
- Analyze test results and generate detailed reports on findings and metrics
- Automate test scripts using languages like Python or Bash
- Collaborate with hardware and software teams to resolve issues and improve product quality
- Contribute to the improvement of testing methodologies and best practices
- Report progress, metrics, and potential roadblocks to leadership
Our take
Neural networks and CPUs are vital to AI solutions, but manufacturers have largely failed to maintain innovation in recent years. Lightmatter solves this problem by offering a next-generation computing platform powered by photonics (light waves).
Lightmatter offers a forward-facing platform for AI-building that acts as an alternative to traditional solutions. It works by replacing wired CPUs with a combination of photonics and new algorithms. Lightmatter's solution is not only faster, but it is considerably more sustainable, and it has the potential to drive the next generation of AI development.
As of 2025, Lightmatter has raised $850 million across six funding rounds and grown to a staggering valuation of $4.4 billion, a testament to growing industry demand for faster, more effective AI-building solutions. Lightmatter currently has three products on the market - Envise, Passage, and Idiom - and is poised to take on the incumbent chiplet industry with a photonics-based alternative.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 6 rounds)
Oct 2024
$400m
SERIES D
Dec 2023
$155m
SERIES C
Total funding: $822m
Company benefits
- Commuter benefit
- Happy hour -Spend time together and build friendships
- Generous vacation policy and holidays
- 401(K)
- Opportunity to learn from your peers and teach them what you know across electronics, photonics, machine learning, and more
Company HQ
Old Mountain View, Mountain View, CA
Leadership
Nicholas Harris
(CEO & Co-Founder)Previously worked as an R&D Product Engineer at Micron Technology, and as a Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT.
Thomas Graham
(Co-Founder)Was an M&A Analyst at Morgan Stanley, and worked as an Agency Business Development Manager at Google.
Darius Bunandar
(Chief Scientist & Co-Founder)Worked as a Research Collaborator at Caltech, and was a PhD Candidate at MIT.
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