Engineering Intern

OpenLight Photonics•Santa Clara, CA

25d•$140,000 - $240,000

About The Position

OpenLight Photonics is hiring engineering interns for multiple internship opportunities in photonics, photonic integrated circuit (PIC) engineering, reliability, and test engineering. The paid internship is expected to run from June through August 2027 and offers hands-on experience with silicon photonics technology in a fast-paced startup environment. Roles are based in Santa Clara or Goleta, California; hybrid options are available for select roles. Applicants should submit a resume and indicate which internship positions they are applying for. The Photonics Device Modeling Intern assists with photonic device modeling tools and workflows, develops and optimizes models for devices and integrated circuits, runs simulations and analyzes data, and collaborates with photonics and process engineering teams. This role is hybrid. The PIC Engineering Intern supports photonic integrated circuit design, layout, verification, simulation, characterization, and optimization. The intern works with design and fabrication teams, documents results, and participates in design reviews. This role is onsite. The Photonics Test Engineering Intern builds and modifies system-level photonic test stations, writes Python code to run and automate test programs, collects and analyzes data, and prepares test reports with clear conclusions. Test equipment may include PIC evaluation boards, optical spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and other high-end equipment. This role is onsite. Interns must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate engineering or science program, be able to work in a collaborative, fast-moving R&D environment, communicate and document effectively, and be available to work onsite as required by the role. OpenLight develops a platform for photonic integrated circuits and technologies supporting AI and hyperscale data centers, optical communications, advanced sensing, and photonic integration. The company describes its team as collaborative and fast-moving and maintains a hybrid schedule standard of three days per week in the office, with employees selecting days according to work priorities. The posting lists technical-role annual salary ranges of $140,000–$240,000, dependent on skills, experience, location, and other parameters; it does not specify intern compensation.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, or a related field for the Photonics Device Modeling Intern role.
Experience with photonics simulation tools for the Photonics Device Modeling Intern role.
Currently enrolled in Electrical Engineering, Applied Material Science, Applied Physics, or a related degree program for the PIC Engineering Intern role.
Interest in silicon photonics or integrated circuit design for the PIC Engineering Intern role.
Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, or a related field for the Photonics Test Engineering Intern role.
Basic software coding experience, ideally in Python, for the Photonics Test Engineering Intern role.
Basic experience operating lab equipment for the Photonics Test Engineering Intern role.
Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate engineering or science program.
Ability to work in a collaborative, fast-moving R&D environment.
Strong communication and documentation skills.
Availability to work onsite as required by the role.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for the Photonics Device Modeling Intern role.
Strong problem-solving, communication, organizational, interpersonal, and presentation skills for the PIC Engineering Intern role.
Self-starting and independent, while able to collaborate with team members, for the Photonics Test Engineering Intern role.

Responsibilities

Assist with implementation and quality assurance of photonic device modeling tools and workflows.
Develop and optimize design models for photonic devices and integrated circuits.
Run simulations and analyze data to support device performance and design validation.
Collaborate with photonics and process engineering teams.
Support the design, layout, and verification of photonic integrated circuits.
Assist with simulation, characterization, and optimization of PIC components.
Work with cross-functional design and fabrication teams.
Document design results and participate in design reviews.
Build and modify system-level photonic test stations, including PIC evaluation boards, optical spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and other high-end test equipment.
Write Python code to execute and automate test programs.
Collect and analyze data, create test reports, and provide clear conclusions.