{"id":82250,"url":"https://alion.io/job/lightmatter-principal-machine-learning-infrastructure-researcher","title":"Principal Machine Learning Infrastructure Researcher","company":{"id":16141,"name":"Lightmatter","domain":"lightmatter.co","url":"https://alion.io/company/lightmatter-co","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":81,"open_postings":20,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.75,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":44,"computed_at":"2026-10-21T05:46:15Z"}},"role":"AI/ML","role_family":"AI/ML","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Mountain View, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":300000,"max":350000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":350000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"HPC","optional":false},{"name":"InfiniBand","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"NVLink","optional":false},{"name":"TPU","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2025-08-22T03:51:18Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-25","last_verified_at":"2026-10-21T11:03:17Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":425,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":425},"description":"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.\nLightmatter 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!\nIf 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.\nLightmatter is (re)inventing the future of computing with light!\nLightmatter is seeking a Principal of Machine Learning Infrastructure Researcher to join our Machine Learning team. This team is focused on inventing novel hardware systems using Lightmatter technology and modeling the performance of Lightmatter-enabled systems on both training and inference workloads.\nThis is primarily a creative role where you need to think outside the box to push the boundaries of systems research with the power of silicon photonics at your fingertips. This role will work closely with our product, solutions architecture, and engineering teams to generate impactful performance analysis, create high-performance rack-scale designs, and publish cutting-edge ML systems research.\nResponsibilities: \nStay up to date on the latest advancements in Machine Learning research.\nBuild tools to model the performance of Passage-enabled systems when running both training and inference workloads for the latest AI models.\nCollaborate with our product and solutions architecture teams to design compelling reference platforms for our customers, powered by Lightmatter technology. \nFunction as the Machine Learning expert in the room.\nPublish academic papers at top industry conferences and journals. Help support the publication of whitepapers, blog posts, and other marketing collateral.\nLead a small team of Machine Learning engineers\nQualifications:\nPhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field and at least 10 years of industry or research experience in the field.\nSolid background in Machine Learning systems research and experience with performance evaluation and performance modeling.\nHands-on experience with machine learning / deep learning methods and extensive knowledge of Large Language Model training and inference frameworks.\nAcademic publications in relevant journals and industry conferences.\n Strong knowledge of AI systems, including compute (GPUs, TPUs, etc.) and networking (Ethernet, Infiniband, NVLink, etc.) technologies, and their various topologies, paradigms, and trade-offs.\nProven track record leading a team to deliver published results.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nDemonstrated ability to creatively problem-solve and apply first-principles thinking to generate novel ideas, particularly in ambiguous, evolving environments.\nExceptional skills in communicating complex research outcomes and technical concepts to partners and internal stakeholders, while embodying our value of speaking truth.\nAbility to work across research, product, and business functions, rolling up your sleeves to bridge gaps and accelerate outcomes, while demonstrating the core value of \"We are one Lightmatter.\"\nAdaptable and versatile, thriving in a high-speed, high-precision environment.\nExperience in managing engineers and leading projects, with the ability to lift up the team, and work with high standards and high collaboration.\nWe offer competitive compensation. On target earnings range is listed below. The final compensation will be determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data.\nSales Compensation\n$300,000—$350,000 USD\nBenefits\nComprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)\nRetirement Savings Matching Program\nLife Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)\nGenerous Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)\nPaid Family Leave\nShort Term & Long Term Disability\nTraining & Development\nCommuter Benefits\nFlexible, hybrid workplace model\nEquity grants (applicable to full-time employees)\nBenefits 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.\nExport Control\nCandidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4723,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Life insurance","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["AI Chips & Accelerators","Optics & Photonic Components"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2025-08-22T03:51:18Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 27 · green card filings: 1","filings_12m":27,"filings_prev_12m":14,"green_card_filings_12m":1,"median_offered_wage_usd":177679,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-15T11:24:14+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":2}],"liveness":{"score":5,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.182,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":425,"expected_fill_days":44,"reasons":["conf:0","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-21T05:46:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":350000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/lightmatter-principal-machine-learning-infrastructure-researcher","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/lightmatter-principal-machine-learning-infrastructure-researcher.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-21T14:04:16Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":20023,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-22T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":16141},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=16141"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Flightmatter-principal-machine-learning-infrastructure-researcher"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Flightmatter-principal-machine-learning-infrastructure-researcher"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Flightmatter-principal-machine-learning-infrastructure-researcher"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/lightmatter-principal-machine-learning-infrastructure-researcher\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Flightmatter-principal-machine-learning-infrastructure-researcher"}]}