Summer 2026 Internship

Thorlabs•Lafayette, CO

17h•$18 - $25

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 one of our groups located in Lafayette, Colorado. 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 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.

Requirements

Course work in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related major
Familiarity with embedded software development and linux environment
Technical knowledge in Python and Mechanical Aptitude
Work may be active, could stand or sit for long durations and/or perform repetitious work at times.
The employee may lift or move objects up to 20 pounds.
Employees must grasp, manipulate, or assemble parts and components that are often very small.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, however, may be noisy at times.
Must be able to wear appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment such as but not limited to masks, glasses, gloves, and specialty garments.
The required PPE and training allow for the safe handling and processing of chemicals like adhesives, lubricants and solvents, and safe operation of job-related equipment and tools.

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, 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 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.