Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead
- Pay
- $217,000 – $308,000 per year
- Location
- Mountain View, CA · Hybrid
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Executive
- Experience
- 15+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Listed
- 30 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- PCIe
- Ethernet
- high-speed SerDes
- VRM design
- EVT/DVT/PVT
Also useful
- FMEA
- requirements traceability
- advanced packaging
Stated benefits & perks
- Health
- Dental
- Vision
- Equity
Responsibilities
- Technical leadership and mentorship of team members to drive excellence and elevate the teams collective output
- Own and drive multiple complex projects and hardware systems development throughout the full lifecycle, from concept through production
- Collaborate with system architects and technical leads to define and develop hardware systems for photonic AI infrastructure applications
- Define, develop, and review PCBAs to meet system-level electrical, power, and interface requirements
- Lead hands-on integration, verification, and validation across bench bring-up, EVT/DVT, and production release
- Drive cross-functional collaboration with firmware, photonics, packaging, and software teams to resolve dependencies and manage tradeoffs
- Maintain thorough hardware documentation for schematics, design reviews, test plans, validation reports, and other engineering documentation
- Research components and technologies to meet current and next-generation product goals and contribute to the technology roadmap, and improve development processes and engineering best practices
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers on the team
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline with 15+ years of relevant industry experience
- Demonstrated track record of taking multiple complex hardware systems from concept through production
- Deep knowledge of VRMs, high-speed SerDes, and interfaces/protocols including PCIe, Ethernet, SPI/QSPI, I3C, I2C, and JTAG
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary development, integration, and troubleshooting across electrical, mechanical, and firmware domains
- Strong ownership mindset with the ability to work in ambiguous and dynamic environments
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing hardware systems for AI/HPC data center infrastructure, optical transceivers, or silicon photonics products
- Experience with Systems Engineering methodology, including requirements definition and traceability, FMEA, and EVT/DVT/PVT planning and execution
- Familiarity with advanced packaging technologies and high-density PCB design
Pay and benefits
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.
$217,000—$308,000 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)
Export Control
Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.
About Lightmatter
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 looking for a talented Principal Engineer to provide technical leadership to the Hardware Systems organization to help us build the next generation of silicon photonics based artificial intelligence accelerators and interconnect products.
As a Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead, you will be responsible for delivering board and system solutions using Lightmatter's innovative technology to create state of the art machine learning/artificial intelligence or massive scale-out interconnect platforms.
You will work closely with our hardware and software teams, including mechanical, packaging, and IC engineering, to design and build leading edge system level products.
Equal opportunity and legal notices
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.
From Lightmatter's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
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Common questions
What is the salary for the Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead role at Lightmatter?
The Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead posting at Lightmatter states compensation of $217,000 – $308,000 per year. It is listed as a full-time position. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Lightmatter's official career site.
Where is the Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead job at Lightmatter located?
This Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead position at Lightmatter is located in Mountain View, CA (Hybrid). Always check Lightmatter's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead at Lightmatter?
For the Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead role, Lightmatter highlights 15+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with PCIe, Ethernet, high-speed SerDes, VRM design, EVT/DVT/PVT. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead position at Lightmatter?
This listing links directly to Lightmatter's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on Lightmatter's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.