Senior Analog Layout Engineer

THE OPPORTUNITY

Lumai is redefining how the world computes. We are an ambitious, venture-backed UK startup pioneering a breakthrough AI accelerator for data centres which uses 3D optical compute. Our radical technology uses light to perform computation at orders of magnitude faster speeds and at far greater scales than ever before, all whilst consuming far less energy than traditional approaches.

Lumai is unlocking performance and efficiency gains that could transform the economics of AI and compute infrastructure and reshape how intelligence scales globally.

If you are passionate about bringing groundbreaking technology to market, and want to be part of a team pushing the boundaries of what is physically possible, Lumai is where you can make it happen.

ABOUT LUMAI

Founded in 2022, Lumai is a University of Oxford spinout using optical processing to accelerate large language models (LLMs) and other transformer-based AI systems. The team combines expertise in optical computing, machine learning, and physics.

Lumai has already secured over $15 million in investment from leading deep-tech investors including Constructor Capital, IP Group and PhotonVentures, alongside government grants, and is scaling rapidly to deploy the fastest optical compute currently available globally.

THE ROLE

In analog design, layout isn't an afterthought – it's where matching, parasitics, and noise coupling either preserve a carefully designed circuit's performance or quietly destroy it. As a Senior Analog Layout Engineer at Lumai, you will own the physical implementation of our custom analog and mixed-signal blocks, from data converters to bias and clocking circuits, on advanced CMOS process nodes.

You will work in tight feedback loops with circuit designers, translating schematic intent into silicon-accurate layout, and you will be the team's authority on matching techniques, parasitic-sensitive floorplanning, and the physical verification flows that get a design tapeout-ready.

You will report to the Senior Analog/Mixed-Signal Design Lead and collaborate daily with analog/mixed-signal circuit designers as well as the broader ASIC physical design team.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Layout and Matching

• Own full-custom layout of analog and mixed-signal blocks, including data converters, bias/reference circuits, PLLs, and analog front-end IP

• Apply matching techniques appropriate to each block — common-centroid placement, dummy structures, guard rings, and symmetric routing — to preserve circuit-level performance in silicon

Parasitics and Physical Verification

• Identify and mitigate parasitic-sensitive layout risks, including coupling, IR drop, and substrate noise, working closely with circuit designers on back-annotated simulation

• Drive parasitic extraction (PEX) and back-annotated simulation cycles in partnership with circuit designers to close performance margins pre-tapeout

• Own DRC, LVS, and ESD/latch-up sign-off for assigned blocks, resolving violations in collaboration with the PDK and foundry liaison team

Floorplanning, Mentoring and Post-Silicon

• Contribute to floorplanning decisions at the block and sub-system level, balancing area, routing congestion, and noise isolation requirements

• Mentor junior layout engineers on matching techniques and advanced-node layout rules as the team grows

• Support post-silicon debug by helping correlate layout-dependent effects with bench characterisation findings

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Must-Have

• 7+ years of custom analog/mixed-signal layout experience on advanced CMOS process nodes (16nm/12nm class or below)

• Deep hands-on expertise in matching techniques (common-centroid, dummy structures, symmetric routing) for precision analog circuits

• Strong track record with parasitic-sensitive layout: identifying and mitigating coupling, substrate noise, and IR drop issues

• Proficiency with Cadence Virtuoso layout suite and associated DRC/LVS/PEX flows

• Experience taking layout from floorplan through DRC/LVS sign-off and tapeout on at least one production design

• Comfortable working in tight iteration loops directly with circuit designers to resolve performance-limiting layout issues

Strong Preference For

• Layout experience specific to data converters (capacitor arrays, current source arrays) or high-speed clocking structures

• Exposure to ESD and ISO/automotive-grade reliability layout requirements

• Experience mentoring or leading a small layout team

• Familiarity with photonics or optical-electronic co-packaged layout considerations

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Our process is four stages. An initial conversation with our HR team to understand what you want from the role and what we want from it. Two technical sessions with members of our analog design and ASIC physical design teams. Finally, an HR-team session covering scope, terms, and any final questions. We aim to move fast on candidates we are excited about; expect roughly three to four weeks end to end.

Lumai is an equal opportunity employer. We make hiring decisions on merit, scope-fit, and the strength of the working relationship we expect to build with each hire. Applications welcome from candidates of any background. If you are not sure whether you are a fit, send a note anyway.

About Lumai

Lumai is the optical compute company building the next generation of AI infrastructure. Spun out of optics research at the University of Oxford in 2021, we compute with light instead of electrons. Our 3D optical technology carries out the matrix multiplications at the heart of AI inside beams of light travelling through free space, which lets it go beyond the limits of both silicon GPUs and integrated photonics.

In April 2026 we launched Iris Nova, the world's first optical computing system to run billion-parameter large language models in real time, using up to 90% less energy than conventional GPU-based systems. Iris Nova, the first server in the family, is now available for evaluation by hyperscalers, neoclouds, enterprises and research institutions. Aura and Tetra will follow.

Our work won the Falling Walls Award for Science Breakthrough of the Year 2025 and 'Best Overall Technology' at the OCP Future Technologies Symposium. We are headquartered in Oxford.

Why Lumai

You'll work on a new kind of computer. Optical computing for AI has been promised for decades. We have a working system running real models, and the hard part left is taking it to volume.

Your work ships. We are moving from first product to volume production, so what you build this year goes into the servers our customers run.

You'll work across disciplines. Optical engineers, machine learning researchers, and hardware and software engineers solve problems together. You will learn things that don't appear on your job description.

The work matters beyond Lumai. AI's appetite for energy is one of the defining constraints of the next decade. Our mission is sustainable intelligence at global scale: AI that is faster, cheaper to run and far less power-hungry.

You'll join early. You'll have a real say in how we build the product, the team and the way we work.

Equal Opportunity

Lumai is an equal opportunity employer. We make hiring decisions based on skills, experience and potential, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If you need an adjustment at any stage of the hiring process, let us know and we will do our best to support you.