Intern, Optical Packaging - Optical Characterization & Automation

Ayar Labs • San Jose, CA

1d • $50 - $60 • Onsite

About The Position

Ayar Labs is seeking an intern to help build automated test stations for characterizing the fiber-to-chip interfaces, optical connectors, and assembly processes developed by its Optical Packaging team. The work involves writing Python software to control motorized stages and optical instruments, performing alignment and coupling measurements on fiber arrays and packaged parts, and making measurements repeatable and straightforward to analyze. Findings will inform future designs, assembly processes, and component specifications.

This is a hands-on laboratory role. Projects are scoped to the intern’s background and interests. The intern will be mentored by the Optical Packaging team and work alongside test, characterization, and process engineers. The term is May to August 2027, and the position is on-site in the San Jose office. No immigration support is available except for F1, and relocation support is not provided.

Requirements

• Be actively pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Optical/Photonics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Applied Physics.
• Have experience with lab automation and instrument control in Python, such as VISA/SCPI, serial communication, or vendor SDKs.
• Have experience with motorized stages and controllers, such as Thorlabs or Newport.
• Have coursework or research in optics or photonics.
• Have hands-on optical alignment experience.
• Have data analysis experience in Python, such as Pandas, NumPy, or Matplotlib.

Nice To Haves

• Experience handling fiber arrays or fiber optics.
• Experience with machine vision or camera-based alignment.
• Familiarity with version control, such as Git.

Responsibilities

• Write and maintain Python code to control motorized stages, laser sources, power meters, and cameras for automated optical measurements.
• Develop automated alignment routines, such as fiber-array scans and coupling optimization, and use them to characterize alignment tolerance.
• Set up and align optical test fixtures for fiber arrays, optical connectors, and packaged photonic interfaces.
• Run repeatability studies on test stations and help identify sources of drift or measurement error.
• Record measurement data with device identity and test conditions attached, and build scripts or dashboards to summarize results.
• Document setups and procedures, and present results to the Optical Packaging team at the end of the internship.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern