Summer 2026 Engineering Internship
About The Position
Thorlabs is recruiting for Summer 2026 interns, which will have the opportunity to learn more about our business, work on real world projects, and interact within a global company. We are planning to have several interns, this position is for an engineering-based internship with our Imaging Systems group located in Sterling, VA. Housing and relocation expenses are at the responsibility of the applicant and will not be covered by the company. This position requires full-time availability from mid-May to August and offers an opportunity to gain valuable skills and industry insights over the summer. Application deadline: December 19th or until positions filled Salary range $18.00 - $25.00 per hour depending upon the degree and level Purpose of the Position This opportunity is to join a rapidly growing, well-known company in an exciting industry. The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneurial, self-motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced, creative environment. This position is for an entry to mid-level individual who has a mechanical and/or optical design background. Interested individuals will have a technical background and hands-on experience in such fields as fiber optics, mechanical design, laser optics, polarization and telecommunications. Other positions may include an entry to mid-level position for software development and/or software testing. This individual will have the technical background and hands on experience in such fields as Bio-Engineering, Computer Science or Electrical Engineering.
Requirements
- Course work in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Robotics, BioEngineering, Computer Engineering, Software Programming (C++, C#, Python, MatLab), Engineering, Optical Science, Physics, Material Sciences, Chemistry etc.
- Technical knowledge in Solidworks, Powerpoint, Excel, Python and Software Development Environment.
- Hands-on lab experience (chemistry and/or optical preferred)
- Hands-on lab experience (Microscopes and other Lab equipment preferred)
Responsibilities
- Work under the direction of a mentor to learn job skills and manage projects
- Complete projects in such areas as Research & Development, Product Development, Software Development and Process Improvement
- Create presentations summarizing work completed and present to a panel of technical staff
- Learn technical skills and software programs in the field of Photonics
- Hands on experience with Manufacturing or Software Development processes
- Must maintain a safe and clean working environment through compliance with procedures, policies, and regulations.
- Meeting company standards pertaining to quantity and quality of work performed on an ongoing basis, performing all work-related tasks in a manner that is in compliance with all Company policies and procedures.
- Adhering to Company policies, procedures, and directives regarding standards of workplace behavior in completing job duties and assignments.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
