Intern, Laser Control & Validation Engineering

Ayar Labs • San Jose, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Ayar Labs is seeking a graduate-level intern to support development, characterization, and laboratory validation of advanced laser and optical control systems. Working with a cross-functional engineering team, the intern will evaluate control algorithms, characterize electro-optical and thermal system behavior, and validate system performance through laboratory measurements. The work involves hands-on experiments with laser and optical hardware, electronic instrumentation, temperature-control systems, and automated test equipment.

The intern may design and execute characterization experiments; collect and analyze measurement data; evaluate static and dynamic system response; validate control algorithms against system requirements; and develop Python-based tools for test automation, data analysis, and visualization. The role is suited to a candidate with a strong foundation in control systems, electrical engineering, optics/photonics, or experimental physics who can connect theoretical models with laboratory measurements.

The position is an on-site internship in Ayar Labs’ San Jose office, running from May to August 2027. The company states that immigration support is unavailable except for F-1, and relocation support is not provided.

Requirements

• Actively pursuing or completing a Master's or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related technical field.
• Strong fundamentals in control systems, including feedback control, PID controllers, system dynamics, stability, and transient response.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory testing and characterization, including oscilloscopes, power supplies, DAQs, temperature controllers, and other electronic or optical instrumentation.
• Experience with Python and/or MATLAB for data acquisition, analysis, visualization, modeling, and test automation.
• Ability to analyze experimental data, identify trends and anomalies, and compare measured performance against models and requirements.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, including the ability to independently execute laboratory experiments.
• Good technical documentation and communication skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of lasers, optics/photonics, electro-optical systems, or semiconductor devices.
• Familiarity with thermal control or TEC systems, sensors, actuator characterization, noise measurements, and dynamic response measurements.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, characterization, and laboratory validation of laser and optical control systems.
• Evaluate control algorithms and characterize electro-optical and thermal system behavior.
• Validate system performance through laboratory measurements.
• Design and execute characterization experiments.
• Collect and analyze measurement data, including static and dynamic system response.
• Validate control algorithms against system requirements.
• Develop Python-based tools for test automation, data analysis, and visualization.
• Troubleshoot and independently execute laboratory experiments.
• Document technical work and collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern