AI Hiring Index

Lightmatter · Infrastructure · Staff+ · Posted 2026-06-09

Sr. Staff Physical Design Timing Engineer (STA)

Lightmatter · Boston, MA · $217k–267k base

This range's midpoint is above 66% of posted infrastructure ranges at AI companies right now. Compare it with every posted range at Lightmatter by level, and at 281 other AI companies, in the AI Salary Report, US$29 once, or see the free salary index.

Apply on Lightmatter's site Watch Lightmatter for new roles

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 are hiring a Physical Design Timing Engineer to help drive backend digital execution for some of the leading photonics based interconnect solutions. You will work alongside a team of world-class scientists and engineers in defining how the system will be optimized and trailblaze problems that are new to the industry. If your passion is innovation, solving challenging technical problems and doing impactful work you should join our team.

In this job you will be responsible for timing constraints development, STA and timing closure on  leading edge CMOS technologies and flows. This includes synthesis through place and route, timing closure, and tapeout signoff.

Responsibilities

Drive the STA sign-off  for our flagship Silicon photonics chips at various technology nodes. 

Analyze fab guidelines and work with the methodology team to incorporate sign off corners, margins, and derates into timing analysis flows and methodologies.

Collaborate with the  architecture, RTL, and DFT teams to analyze the timing complexities and develop consolidated timing modes and constraints for synthesis, along with PnR and chip timing sign-off flows.

Analyze and understand the tradeoffs between power/performance and area goals to drive them into overall chip implementation flows.

Run full-chip STA and accurately project the timing summary across scenarios.

Leverage Tempus/PrimeTime to automate timing ECO generation for effective closure and support physical design implementation.

Document best practices and lessons learned to drive continuous improvements in future projects.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer engineering

12 years of Physical Design experience, with a minimum of 5 years hands-on experience in ASIC STA and timing constraints development, timing closure with Cadence or Synopsys tools 

Experience in driving timing closure by effectively managing on-chip variation derates, optimizing multi-mode multi-corner constraints, and implementing robust clock tree building strategies

Well versed with scripting languages like TCL and Python, PERL, or Shell

Strong problem solving skills with attention to every technical aspect

Be a strong team player with clear and precise communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer engineering

A minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in ASIC STA and timing constraints development, timing closure with Cadence or Synopsys tools 

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 — $267,000 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 Disab …

New infrastructure roles at AI companies, every Monday. The week's openings in this function across 277 companies, plus the weekly index. Free.

More infrastructure roles at Lightmatter

See also: AI jobs in Boston · Lightmatter salaries · Python jobs · RTL jobs.

This listing is reproduced from Lightmatter's public careers feed and links to the original. AI Hiring Index is not the employer and does not accept applications. All Lightmatter roles · AI salaries.