Photonics Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is one of the country's leading states for photonics engineering, anchored by a dense cluster of defense, semiconductor, and optical systems employers across Greater Boston, the Route 128 corridor, and the Merrimack Valley. Companies like II-VI Incorporated, Coherent, Lumentum, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and Raytheon Technologies regularly hire photonics engineers and have established visa sponsorship programs for international candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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 Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will lead the development of our internal Process Design Kit (PDK). You will act as the architect of our component library, bridging the gap between physical device physics and system-level simulation. You will develop robust compact models for active and passive components, ensuring that our simulation environment accurately predicts the behavior of our physical layouts. You will work heavily in Python, applying software engineering rigor to the challenges of photonic hardware design.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain a library of pcells using Python-based layout frameworks. Ensure strict synchronization between physical layout, logical netlists, and behavioral models.
- Create and verify behavioral compact models for passive and active devices.
- Simulation Infrastructure: Build automated workflows that extract parameters from electromagnetic solvers (FDTD/FEM) and package them into the PDK for circuit-level simulation.
- Model-Hardware Correlation: Validate simulation models against lab measurements. Perform data fitting and statistical analysis to align model parameters with real-world silicon performance.
- Automated Verification: Implement regression testing and Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines to ensure PDK updates do not break legacy designs or connectivity logic.
- Netlist & Connectivity: Own the logic for netlist extraction, ensuring that the connectivity graph generated by the code perfectly matches the physical intent.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's +5 years experience or PhD +3 years experience in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field.
- Deep understanding of photonic device physics and experience in device simulation.
- Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators (e.g., Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or custom Python solvers).
- Experienced in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis. Comfortable with object-oriented programming and scientific libraries (NumPy, SciPy).
- Python based layout experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with GDSFactory, OptoCompiler, or KLayout Python scripting.
- Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems (e.g., SAX, Photontorch, Simphony).
- Experience with Git version control, unit testing (pytest), and CI/CD workflows.
- Prior experience in performing physical layout using foundry-provided process design kits (PDKs), adhering to specific design rules and constraints.
- Experience in taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits, including familiarity with relevant testing equipment and methodologies.
- Experience doing inverse design.
- Possess strong project execution skills, demonstrating the ability to effectively manage multiple design priorities, adhere to project timelines, and meet critical milestones.
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.
INTRODUCTION
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 Photonics PDK Modeling Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will lead the development of our internal Process Design Kit (PDK). You will act as the architect of our component library, bridging the gap between physical device physics and system-level simulation. You will develop robust compact models for active and passive components, ensuring that our simulation environment accurately predicts the behavior of our physical layouts. You will work heavily in Python, applying software engineering rigor to the challenges of photonic hardware design.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain a library of pcells using Python-based layout frameworks. Ensure strict synchronization between physical layout, logical netlists, and behavioral models.
- Create and verify behavioral compact models for passive and active devices.
- Simulation Infrastructure: Build automated workflows that extract parameters from electromagnetic solvers (FDTD/FEM) and package them into the PDK for circuit-level simulation.
- Model-Hardware Correlation: Validate simulation models against lab measurements. Perform data fitting and statistical analysis to align model parameters with real-world silicon performance.
- Automated Verification: Implement regression testing and Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines to ensure PDK updates do not break legacy designs or connectivity logic.
- Netlist & Connectivity: Own the logic for netlist extraction, ensuring that the connectivity graph generated by the code perfectly matches the physical intent.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's +5 years experience or PhD +3 years experience in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field.
- Deep understanding of photonic device physics and experience in device simulation.
- Experience building behavioral models for circuit simulators (e.g., Lumerical INTERCONNECT, Cadence, Synopsys OptSim, or custom Python solvers).
- Experienced in Python for modeling, automation, and data analysis. Comfortable with object-oriented programming and scientific libraries (NumPy, SciPy).
- Python based layout experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with GDSFactory, OptoCompiler, or KLayout Python scripting.
- Experience with Python-native circuit simulation ecosystems (e.g., SAX, Photontorch, Simphony).
- Experience with Git version control, unit testing (pytest), and CI/CD workflows.
- Prior experience in performing physical layout using foundry-provided process design kits (PDKs), adhering to specific design rules and constraints.
- Experience in taping out and testing large-scale photonic integrated circuits, including familiarity with relevant testing equipment and methodologies.
- Experience doing inverse design.
- Possess strong project execution skills, demonstrating the ability to effectively manage multiple design priorities, adhere to project timelines, and meet critical milestones.
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.
Photonics Engineer Job Roles in Massachusetts
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Search Photonics Engineer Jobs in MassachusettsPhotonics Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for photonics engineers in Massachusetts?
Several Massachusetts employers have a documented history of sponsoring work visas for photonics engineers. These include defense and aerospace contractors such as Raytheon Technologies and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, photonics and optical components firms like II-VI Incorporated, Coherent, and Lumentum, and semiconductor equipment companies concentrated along the Route 128 and I-495 corridors. University-affiliated research labs at MIT and Harvard also sponsor researchers in photonics-adjacent roles.
Which visa types are most common for photonics engineer roles in Massachusetts?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa category for photonics engineers in Massachusetts, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in optics, photonics, electrical engineering, or physics. Employers with active government contracts sometimes sponsor O-1 visas for candidates with demonstrated research distinction. Some roles at defense contractors may require additional security clearance eligibility, which can affect sponsorship feasibility for certain nationalities.
Which cities in Massachusetts have the most photonics engineer sponsorship jobs?
Greater Boston and Cambridge host the highest concentration of photonics engineering roles, driven by proximity to MIT, Harvard, and major defense contractors. Burlington, Billerica, Andover, and Woburn along the Route 128 and I-495 corridors are significant hubs for optical components and laser systems companies. Lowell and the Merrimack Valley also have manufacturing and R&D facilities where photonics engineers are regularly recruited with visa sponsorship.
How to find photonics engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Massachusetts?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates looking for visa-sponsored photonics engineer roles in Massachusetts. You can filter directly by role and state to see employers with active sponsorship history in the photonics sector, covering companies across Greater Boston, the Route 128 corridor, and research institutions. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from employers who have previously filed H-1B petitions for photonics and optical engineering positions, saving significant research time.
What should international photonics engineers know about prevailing wages and hiring in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts generally falls in the higher wage tiers for photonics engineering roles, reflecting the cost of living in Greater Boston and demand from defense and semiconductor employers. Sponsoring employers must certify through a Labor Condition Application that they will pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for the specific role and location, which you can research independently using the OFLC Wage Search tool. Candidates with advanced degrees in optical physics or photonic systems, or with backgrounds in compound semiconductors and fiber optics, tend to find the strongest sponsorship opportunities in the state.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored photonics engineer jobs in Massachusetts?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.