Principal Product Manager, Photonics

As Principal Product Manager, Photonics, you will lead product definition, positioning, and execution for some of Lightmatter's most strategic products, including photonics computing. You will drive design wins with leading AI XPU companies, cloud providers, and AI infrastructure builders, positioning Lightmatter at the center of the next generation of AI compute and networking. Reporting directly to the VP of Product Management, you will work closely with engineering, sales, solution architects, operations, finance, and the executive team to accelerate Lightmatter product adoption in this fast-growing market. Responsibilities: • Lead product definition, SKU strategy, and market positioning & messaging for Lightmatter's products, including full MRD/PRD ownership. • Define and own the product roadmap for Lightmatter's photonic computing platform, grounded in a deep understanding of ML workloads, model architecture, and hardware & software co-design trade-offs. • Engage directly with AI/ML experts, cloud architects, and compute platform teams to validate product-market fit and shape the technical roadmap around real customer needs. • Translate ML workload-level requirements into photonics computing product requirements in collaboration with engineering. • Drive rollout to lead customers and manage full product lifecycle from early development through production and EOL. • Develop pricing guidelines, margin analysis, and revenue forecasts establishing competitiveness and profitability in support of corporate financial goals. • Represent Lightmatter at key industry forums and speaking events as a product leader and subject matter expert. • Produce high-quality outbound technical and marketing collateral in conjunction with product marketing and documentation teams. • Brief top industry press, analysts, and investors on Lightmatter product strategies, competitive advantages, and market positioning. Qualifications • Strong, hands-on understanding of the AI/ML systems architecture - including ML model fundamentals, training and inference workload characteristics, XPU and accelerator architectures, and datacenter-scale system design. • 15+ years of related industry experience with 10+ years in product management, product marketing, applications engineering, or business development roles driving high-complexity semiconductor or systems products to market. • Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field. • Proven ability to drive products through the full development cycle: business case 12 definition 12 development 12 design-in 12 production 12 EOL • Experience with datacenter products and technologies, including compute infrastructure, optical networking, provisioning, and operations at scale.. • Strong end-to-end understanding of semiconductor chip development and the AI hardware ecosystem. • Data-driven decision-maker with strong ability to synthesize technical and market data into product strategy. • Effective cross-functional communicator who can bridge engineering depth and executive-level clarity. Preferred Qualifications • Advanced degrees in optics/photonics or computer architecture. • Deep technical knowledge of silicon photonics and/or optical interconnect technologies. • Broad professional network across photonics, AI/ML, semiconductor, and cloud infrastructure segments. • Self-starter with strong bias for action in a fast-paced, high-ambiguity environment - comfortable managing competing priorities and driving to results quickly. • "No task too big or small" attitude with a genuine willingness to roll up sleeves wherever needed. 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. $226,000-$317,000 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)