R&D Operations & Automation Engineer Intern

HyperLight•Cambridge, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

HyperLight is a leader in the commercialization of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) integrated photonics, enabling high-performance optical components for AI/datacom, hyperscale computing, quantum computing, and sensing. Our TFLN Chiplet™ platform is designed for scalability and manufacturability. We partner with customers from concept to mass production. As HyperLight grows, we are seeking an R&D Operations & Automation Engineer Intern to join our team. This role is at the intersection of R&D operations, engineering automation, data, and advanced photonic technology. You will collaborate with R&D and cross-functional engineering teams to enhance the planning, execution, tracking, and analysis of development activities. Your work will involve identifying opportunities to improve R&D workflows, developing automation solutions and engineering tools, and utilizing data to boost engineering efficiency and accelerate development cycles. This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy understanding complex engineering processes, solving open-ended problems, and applying engineering, data analysis, automation, and programming to real-world R&D challenges. Join us to make a significant impact in a fast-paced, collaborative, high-growth environment.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technical field.
Experience and strong interest in R&D operations, process improvement, and engineering automation.
Programming experience with Python or similar coding languages for engineering, data analysis, or automation applications.
Strong engineering fundamentals and demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to analyze engineering data and translate findings into practical improvements.
Strong organizational skills and ability to understand and improve complex engineering workflows.
Authorization to work in the US is required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AI/LLM tools, AI agents, or agentic workflows for engineering automation, data analysis, or workflow optimization is a plus.
Experience with photonics, semiconductor fabrication, device characterization, or manufacturing environments is a plus.
Experience with laboratory equipment, measurement instruments, test automation, or data acquisition is a plus.
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across multiple engineering disciplines.
Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and comfortable solving open-ended problems in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Responsibilities

Support the planning, tracking, and execution of R&D projects, experiments, and engineering lots.
Analyze R&D workflows to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for process improvement.
Develop automation solutions and engineering tools to streamline R&D workflows and reduce repetitive manual work.
Use programming, data analysis, and dashboards to automate recurring tasks and improve visibility into R&D activities.
Analyze engineering and operational data to identify trends, anomalies, and root causes, supporting data-driven decisions and improvements in cycle time and execution efficiency.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to standardize R&D workflows, develop SOPs, and drive continuous improvement.