R&D lab technician

Nokia•United States,

About The Position

We are seeking a hands-on Optical Lab Operations & Test Support Technician to manage the daily operation of an optical systems test laboratory in San Jose. The role covers general lab organization, equipment management, test setup and modification, documentation, equipment calibration and repair, IT support coordination, and continuous improvement of the lab space and processes. Over time, the position can grow into a test technician role responsible for executing optical and electrical characterization of next-generation optical networking products.

Requirements

Associate's degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
Hands-on experience working in a lab environment.
Strong organizational and project coordination skills.
Familiarity with lab equipment, instrumentation, and inventory management.
Basic networking and IT troubleshooting skills.
Experience managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience in optical communications, photonics, or telecommunications environments.
Familiarity with optical fiber handling and test equipment.
Experience with both Windows and Linux systems.
Basic scripting and test automation experience, such as Python.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day lab operations and organization.
Build, modify, and maintain optical and electrical test setups.
Coordinate lab space allocation and test resource scheduling.
Support the engineering team with setup integration, troubleshooting, and configuration changes.
Coordinate calibration schedules and equipment repair.
Coordinate firewall requests, network access, IP address allocation, and lab computer deployments and upgrades.
Track lab assets and equipment utilization.
Generate purchase requests for laboratory equipment and supplies.
Maintain a clean, safe, and efficient lab environment.
Organize lab equipment and consumables.
Develop and maintain equipment inventories, asset tracking systems, and storage organization.
Create and maintain lab documentation.
Coordinate receipt, installation, and deployment of new equipment.
Manage consumables inventory and reorder processes.
Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency and utilization.
Develop standardized setup practices and documentation.
Implement processes that reduce setup time and improve test repeatability.
Support lab expansion and infrastructure upgrade projects.