Enterprise Data & Systems Architect – 100%

Lightium AG, a Swiss startup building next‑generation photonic integrated circuits based on thin‑film lithium niobate, is looking for an Enterprise Data & Systems Architect to own the company’s data platform and enterprise tools end to end. The role is a 100% onsite position in Schlieren, just outside Zurich, perfect for someone who wants to shape how data drives both research and production. The right candidate will enjoy building from the ground up, leading a small team, and aligning data and tooling across R&D, manufacturing, and operations.

As the technical backbone for data and systems, you’ll steer the architecture and strategy for the data landscape, ensuring a cohesive and scalable approach as Lightium moves from pilot to volume production. You’ll own the integration across PLM, ERP, MES and the supporting infrastructure, while maintaining data traceability across locations and departments. The role combines hands‑on architecture with mentorship of specialists, from DevOps to data scientists and automation engineers, so you’ll get to both design and deliver.

Owning Lightium's data backbone

In this hands‑on capacity you’ll define and advance the overarching architecture for the data platform and the enterprise systems that support the business. You’ll work to keep the data warehouse, PLM, ERP, MES, and the hardware/software stack aligned, translating manufacturing and business needs into a practical, scalable strategy. You’ll build high‑level dashboards that give operations and leadership visibility into KPIs, and you’ll be responsible for cloud and cloud storage decisions across Azure, AWS, and Google Computing (GC) to support simulations, data analysis and storage.

Your day‑to‑day includes shaping the data and governance framework, designing data contracts and naming conventions, and ensuring data quality as volumes grow. You will design, build, and operate the databases, data pipelines, and lakehouse components behind the modern data stack, and you’ll ensure the platform powers analytics, BI, and internal tools reliably. You’ll also own security and governance across the platform, including access controls, encryption, backups, and disaster recovery, and you’ll make sure the landscape complies with ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001, ITAR, US EAR, and the Swiss Goods Control Act as appropriate for sensitive PIC data.

Beyond architecture, you’ll take charge of selecting and implementing MES, exploring options that fit both flexible R&D needs and scalable production, and you’ll lead the tendering process and vendor selections. You’ll align MES with PLM and ERP to preserve end‑to‑end traceability from design through manufacturing and shipment. You’ll also own the automated wafer‑scale test software built on OpenTAP, guiding its architecture and rollout, and you’ll define data‑exchange protocols that connect PLM, ERP, test, MES and the data warehouse. Maintaining reliable automation as production grows will be part of your remit, too.

Finally, you’ll steward the infrastructure and vendor relationships that keep the environment secure and scalable. You’ll manage Linux servers, virtualization, containerized services, object storage, and backups, and you’ll handle projects, contracts and SLAs with external IT providers. Documentation will be a living reference, and you’ll help the wider engineering community by setting standards and best practices. Mentoring and guiding a team of specialists while helping with hiring as the team grows rounds out the role.

Must‑have and nice‑to‑have qualifications

To be considered, you should bring a blend of education, hands‑on experience, and a pragmatic approach to architecture that balances build and buy. Lightium is looking for someone with a strong foundation in enterprise or solutions architecture, ideally in manufacturing or semiconductor environments, and a track record of delivering end‑to‑end architectures from scratch.

• A degree in computer science, engineering, physics, or a related field, with a solid record in enterprise or solutions architecture, ideally in manufacturing or semiconductor settings
• Hands‑on work with PLM (Aras Innovator or a similar system) and ERP implementations and integrations
• A history of leading automated production or testing lines, preferably in a semiconductor context
• A strong database and data‑engineering background, including data‑model design, pipelines, transformation/orchestration, and data quality, with hands‑on experience on lakehouse platforms like Databricks, Apache Iceberg, and Trino
• Comfort working across cloud and on‑prem environments, including containers, object storage, and lakehouse architectures
• 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 standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 27001, and awareness of export‑control regimes (ITAR, US EAR, Swiss dual‑use/Goods Control Act)
• Proficiency with modern AI solutions
• Pragmatic and lean by instinct, comfortable both architecting and building with your own hands, and solving problems through smart integration and vendor orchestration rather than expanding headcount
• Clear communication skills to translate manufacturing and business needs into technical strategy for senior leadership, and comfort in a fast‑moving startup
• Fluency in English is required; German or French is a bonus

• Experience in a fast‑moving startup environment
• Familiarity with OpenTAP or similar wafer‑scale test automation tools
• Additional language skills beyond English, such as German or French, would be a plus

Pay, benefits and practical details

Lightium offers a competitive compensation package and a benefits program that includes an employee stock option plan (ESOP), fully‑covered Pillar Two, and generous vacation. The role sits in Schlieren, on‑site, with the chance to play a central part in a cutting‑edge photonics initiative that spans telecommunications, datacom and beyond. The environment is collaborative and geared toward shaping an evolving manufacturing platform, with a pace that matches an early‑phase startup with clear growth opportunities.

Advice for applicants

Lead with the breadth of your enterprise architecture experience and your track record implementing systems that span PLM, ERP and MES, especially in a manufacturing or semiconductor context.

Show how you’ve designed data contracts and quality standards for a growing data platform, including governance, security, and compliance measures that align with ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 27001, plus export‑control considerations.

Prepare concrete examples of how you’ve integrated automated test tooling (like OpenTAP) with PLM, ERP and data warehousing, and what tradeoffs you weighed during supplier selections and implementations.

Think about a smart question to ask at the end of interviews, such as how Lightium plans to balance pilot projects with scalable production, how the data strategy interfaces with MES rollouts, and what the near‑term priorities are for the data and automation team.

How to apply

Lightium asks interested candidates to connect with the company directly through its open pathway for applicants, seeking someone who wants to build and grow on a fast‑paced manufacturing platform in photonics. The company emphasizes equal opportunity and a commitment to inclusivity for all employees.