The posting
Are you a systems architect or senior engineer who has built the digital backbone of a manufacturing or high-tech company, ready to own it end-to-end? At Lightium, we are building next-generation photonic integrated circuits (PICs) based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN), and we are looking for an Enterprise Data & Systems Architect to become the technical backbone of our data platform and enterprise systems.
Position Summary We seek a hands-on Enterprise Data & Systems Architect to own the technical architecture of our data infrastructure, automation and digital systems. The ownership spans from database architecture and data warehouse to PLM, ERP and MES systems, as well as test automation, serving both R&D and growing production flow. As part of the Operations team, you will drive the data and systems strategy, own the integration between tools and data infrastructure, keeping the landscape coherent and lean as we scale from pilot to volume production. You will be managing and mentoring a small team of specialists ranging from DevOps to Data Scientists and Automation Engineers.
Key Responsibilities Enterprise Systems Architecture & Strategy: Own the architecture and roadmap for Lightium’s data platform, enterprise systems, and supporting infrastructure as we scale from pilot to volume. Ensure that decisions across the data warehouse, PLM, ERP, MES, and HW/SW infrastructure reinforce one another rather than compete, and translate manufacturing and business needs into a coherent, pragmatic systems strategy that ensures data traceability across the company and across multiple locations and departments. Build and maintain high level dashboards that allows both operations and leadership teams to track KPI. Be responsible for all the cloud computing and cloud storage solutions, including Azure, AWS, Google Computing (GC) to ensure a cost-effective and scalable operations for both simulations, data analysis and data storage.
Data & Analytics Platform: Own the database and data-warehouse architecture and the modeling of test and manufacturing data, scaling it to support higher production volumes. Design, build, and operate the databases, data pipelines, transformation and orchestration, and lakehouse behind it on a modern data stack. Set the data contracts, naming conventions, and quality standards that keep data trustworthy and traceable as volume grows, and ensure the platform powers reliable analytics, BI, reporting, and internal tools at scale.
Data Security, Governance & Compliance: Own IT and data security and governance across the platform: access control (including external and internal Tier-based access), managing data encryption in transit and at rest, backups and disaster recovery, and clear ownership of who can access what. Align the systems and data landscape with the relevant standards (ISO 9001 quality management and ISO/IEC 27001 information security) and design the access and data-segregation controls that ensures confidentiality, and support export-control compliance (ITAR, US EAR, and the Swiss Goods Control Act / dual-use regulations) when handling sensitive PIC technical data.
Enterprise Systems & Product Lifecycle: Own Aras Innovator (PLM) and the ERP (Oracle NetSuite) implementation, including ongoing rollout, configuration, and the integration between the two. Drive end-to-end product and document lifecycle traceability, from design through to manufacturing, measurements, reporting and shipment, and keep master data consistent and clean across systems.
MES Selection & Implementation: Scout the market for a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) platform that fits both R&D (with high flexibility) and production (with high scalability), and run the full supplier tender through to vendor selection. Lead the subsequent implementation and integration of the MES with PLM, ERP, and the data platform, so that process steps, run data, and traceability flow end-to-end as production scales.
Test Automation & Tool Integration: Own the automated wafer-scale test software built on OpenTAP, from architecture and build through production rollout. Define and maintain the data-exchange protocols between tools and systems, connecting PLM, ERP, test, MES, and the data warehouse, and partner with process and test engineering to keep automation reliable and scalable as production volume ramps.
Infrastructure, Vendors & Continuous Improvement: Own the reliability, security, and scaling of core infrastructure (Linux servers, virtualization, containerized services, object storage, and backups), from the lakehouse and storage layers to application hosting and manufacturing-adjacent systems, and manage projects, contracts, and SLAs with external IT vendors and managed-service providers. Document architecture as living references, support the colleagues who use the systems day to day, and continuously improve how data and digital tools serve the company.
Technical Guidance & Mentorship: Act as the technical reference and architect for the wider engineering community, setting the direction, standards, and best practices that automation engineers, data and analytics engineers, DevOps engineers, and interns. Manage and mentor a small team of specialists, and guide them in their day-to-day work, and support the hiring process for these roles as the team grows around the architecture you define.
What You’ll Bring Educational Background: A degree in computer science, engineering, physics, or a related field, with a strong track record in enterprise or solutions architecture, ideally in a manufacturing or semiconductor environment. You have ideally designed and built enterprise systems architectures from scratch.
Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience with PLM (Aras Innovator or similar) and ERP systems, including their implementation and integration. A track record leading automated/robotic production or testing lines, preferably in a semiconductor industry or similar. A strong database and data-engineering background (database and data-model design, data pipelines, transformation and orchestration, and data quality), hands-on with modern lakehouse and data platforms such as Databricks, Apache Iceberg, and Trino, and comfortable across both cloud and on-prem infrastructure, including containers, object storage, and lakehouse architectures. A solid grasp of data security, encryption, backups, and access control. Vendor and contract management experience, including negotiating SLAs with managed-service providers. Familiarity with data-relevant standards (ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001) and export-control regimes (ITAR, US EAR, Swiss dual-use / Goods Control Act) is a strong asset. Proficiency in modern AI solutions.
Mindset: Pragmatic and lean by instinct, happy to architect and to build with your own hands, and to solve problems through smart integration and vendor orchestration rather than headcount. People-leadership experience, with a track record of hiring, managing and mentoring technical staff. A strong communicator, able to translate manufacturing and business needs into technical strategy for executive leadership, and at home in a fast-moving startup.
Languages: Fluency in English is required. German or French is a bonus.
What We Offer Competitive compensation and benefits package, including an employee stock option plan (ESOP), fully-covered Pillar Two, and generous vacation.
A unique opportunity to lead a cutting-edge manufacturing initiative in the rapidly growing field of photonics.
A collaborative and innovative work environment where your contributions will shape the future of telecommunications, datacom, and beyond.
Final Thoughts We'd love to hear from you if you're passionate about building new tech from the ground up and thrive in a collaborative and result-driven environment. Become a key player in an early-phase startup and join a motivated, and energetic team. You will have the unique opportunity to create, grow, and develop your professional skills at a fast pace. Lightium is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
