Optics-Physics Sensor Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory•Cambridge, MA

About The Position

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with more than 2,000 employees. Its multidisciplinary teams develop solutions to challenges in areas including defense, space exploration, and biomedical engineering. Optics-Physics Sensor Engineering interns support research and development of precision inertial guidance and imaging instruments for existing customers. Project work may include electro-optical design, optical and thermal model development, materials testing, electrical system design, and hardware assembly, testing, and debugging. Specific tasks may include testing and evaluating optical and photonic components, designing and fabricating custom optical evaluation setups, optical and electronic modeling, and optical system assembly. Students are expected to work with programs such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, SolidWorks, COMSOL, ANSYS, Mentor Graphics, Python, and GitLab. This position runs during the summer months of 2027 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Applicants must be U.S. citizens; Draper cannot sponsor or hire individuals holding H-1B or student visas, and dual citizens cannot be accepted for this position. The advertised U.S. base salary range is $20.00–$45.00. Pay within the range depends on work location and job-related skills, experience, education, or training. The posting describes workplace flexibility, employee clubs, health and finance workshops, off-site social events, and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. Draper states that it is committed to an inclusive environment and provides reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

Be a student in physics, materials science, or electrical engineering.
Have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Have hands-on experience.
Be a U.S. citizen; dual citizens are not eligible, and the employer cannot sponsor or hire people holding H-1B or student visas.

Nice To Haves

Experience with optical design, thermal control, electro-optic component testing and evaluation, circuit theory, machine shop interaction, or technical assembly.
Experience with Excel, LabVIEW, MATLAB, ACAD, Mentor Graphics, Python, or GitLab.

Responsibilities

Support research and development of precision inertial guidance and imaging instruments for existing customers.
Contribute to electro-optical design and optical and thermal model development.
Conduct materials testing and support electrical system design.
Assemble, test, and debug hardware.
Test and evaluate optical and photonic components, including designing and fabricating custom optical evaluation setups.
Perform optical and electronic modeling.
Assemble optical systems.