At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architectural vision for groundbreaking AI technology and collaborate across teams.
- Company: Exciting UK startup revolutionising AI with innovative optical computing solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic startup environment with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Join a pioneering team transforming AI and make a real impact on the future of technology.
- Qualifications: Strong understanding of AI models and experience in hardware/software systems.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
The Opportunity Lumai is redefining how the world computes.
We are an ambitious, venture-backed UK startup pioneering a breakthrough AI accelerator for data centers 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 like Constructor Capital, IP Group, Photon Ventures and government grants, and is scaling rapidly to deploy the fastest optical compute currently available globally.
The Role We are looking for a System Architect who thinks in AI first and hardware second.
You will own the architectural vision that bridges our AI workload requirements with our silicon and software execution.
This is not a role for someone who designs chips and then asks what AI runs on them — it's a role for someone who deeply understands AI models, inference and training pipelines, and then works backwards to define the hardware and software systems that serve them best.
You will sit at the intersection of leadership, hardware engineering, and software engineering — translating high-level product strategy into concrete architectural decisions and ensuring all three teams are aligned, unblocked, and pulling in the same direction.
What You'll Do Architecture push back constructively when hardware-centric thinking diverges from AI requirements Collaborate with the software team to define clean hardware/software interfaces, programming models, and runtime abstractions that make the hardware genuinely usable for AI practitioners Facilitate architectural reviews and design discussions that create shared understanding rather than siloed decision-making Execution 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr
AI System Architect employer: Lumai Limited
At Lumai, we are not just redefining computation; we are creating a vibrant and inclusive work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a rapidly growing UK startup, we offer competitive salaries, share options, and a generous learning and development allowance, ensuring our employees have the resources to thrive. Join us in Oxford, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape groundbreaking technology while enjoying a supportive environment that values your contributions and promotes personal growth.
