Physical Design, Intern (Summer 2027)

Lightmatter
Boston, MA
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with scripting experience and a background in VLSI design working in AI and photonics data center infrastructure.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with scripting experience and a background in VLSI design
    — “Familiar with TCL or Python scripting”
  • Individuals interested in AI and photonics data center infrastructure
    — “AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress”

Things to consider

  • This role requires compliance with U.S. export control laws
    — “Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws”
  • The role is open to individuals in Masters or PhD programs
    — “Currently enrolled in a Masters or PhD program”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with AI and scripting in your resume and interview
    — “Investigate usage of AI to improve and augment the physical design flow”
  • Emphasize your understanding of VLSI design fundamentals and flows
    — “Understanding of the concepts of synthesis, place and route, and LVS/DRC”
  • Showcase prior experience or coursework in physical design methodologies
    — “Prior experience or coursework relevant to physical design”
  • Demonstrate ability to collaborate across disciplines like analog and photonics
    — “Work with other teams in Lightmatter such as the analog design team or photonics team”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Improved physical design flow
  • Collaborated on mixed signal and mixed signal + photonics design methodologies
Typical background
Masters or PhD programPhysical design experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Physical DesignScriptingAI IntegrationVLSI DesignSynthesisPlace And RouteLvs/drc

Preferred

PhotonicsSemiconductorsAI Hardware

Stack & domain

PythonTCLCuriosityLearningPhotonicsSemiconductorsAI Hardware

About the role

Original posting from Lightmatter via Greenhouse

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 job 

This team is responsible for defining and implementing the flow and methodology for the digital physical design of Lightmatter’s chips.  We interface with multiple teams and utilize industry best practices to develop flows and methodologies which enable the physical design team to design and implement chips, while optimizing power, performance, and area.

Responsibilities:

Learn the Lightmatter physical design flow

Improve the physical design flow through scripting in languages such as Python

Investigate usage of AI to improve and augment the physical design flow

Work with members of the physical design team on physical implementations or analysis

Work with other teams in Lightmatter such as the analog design team or photonics team to collaborate on and improve mixed signal and mixed signal + photonics design methodologies

Requirements: 

Currently enrolled in a Masters or PhD program 

Interest in physical design

Familiar with TCL or Python scripting 

Knowledge of physical design tools and flows

Understanding of the concepts of synthesis, place and route, and LVS/DRC

Understanding of VLSI design fundamentals

Willingness and curiosity to learn from an exciting team!

Preferred Qualifications

Research, lab, or prior internship experience in physical design involving photonics, semiconductors, or AI hardware

Publications, projects, or open-source contributions related to physical design or python programming

Prior experience or coursework relevant to physical design

Our internship hourly rates are a standard pay determined based on the position and your location, year in school, degree, and experience.

Hourly Rate in USD$50—$55 USDBenefits

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. 

Source: Lightmatter careers (Greenhouse)

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