Discipline guide

Photonics & optics internships

Photonics and optics engineers generate, guide and detect light: lasers, optical fibers, silicon photonics, lidar, camera optics and optical interconnects for data centers and quantum computers. Interns usually split time between optical benches and simulation.

7 open roles right now: none say freshmen or sophomores can apply, 7 don't list a class year. Filter this discipline in the full list.

What interns do

  • Align and characterize optical setups; measure insertion loss, spectra and power.
  • Simulate waveguides and resonators with FDTD or eigenmode solvers.
  • Test lidar, camera or optical-link modules and automate the measurements.
  • Help with optical packaging and fiber attach.

Skills to show

  • Electromagnetic waves and optics coursework.
  • Laser safety training and patient alignment skills.
  • Python or MATLAB for analysis; simulation tools such as MEEP, Lumerical or Zemax.
  • Basics of photodetectors, lasers and noise.

Starter projects

  1. Build a simple spectrometer from a diffraction grating and a camera, calibrate it with known light sources, and report its resolution.
  2. Simulate a silicon waveguide or ring resonator in MEEP (free) and compare the modes or resonances with theory.
  3. Characterize a time-of-flight distance sensor module: accuracy versus distance and target color, with plots and an error analysis.

Open Photonics/optics roles

Newest first. Labels are automatic; read each posting on the employer's site.

  1. Rocket Lab · Tucson, AZ

    Class year not stated Photonics/optics Summer 2027 US person / PR ITAR / export

    Why these labels?
    To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or…

    Excerpt from the posting (at most 300 characters). Always read the full posting on the employer's site.

  2. Lightmatter · Boston, MA; Mountain View, CA

    Class year not stated FPGA/RTL/ASIC Test/validation Photonics/optics ITAR / export

    Why these labels?
    Export Control

    Excerpt from the posting (at most 300 characters). Always read the full posting on the employer's site.

  3. Skydio · Tampere, Finland · Remote

    Class year not stated Test/validation Photonics/optics

  4. Lightmatter · Boston, MA

    Class year not stated RF/wireless Test/validation Photonics/optics ITAR / export

    Why these labels?
    Export Control

    Excerpt from the posting (at most 300 characters). Always read the full posting on the employer's site.

  5. Varda Space Industries · El Segundo, CA

    Class year not stated Photonics/optics Spring 2027 US person / PR ITAR / export

    Why these labels?
    ITAR Requirements

    Excerpt from the posting (at most 300 characters). Always read the full posting on the employer's site.

  6. PsiQuantum · Milpitas, CA

    Class year not stated Test/validation Semi process/device Photonics/optics US person / PR

    Why these labels?
    Variable based on permanent residency location

    Excerpt from the posting (at most 300 characters). Always read the full posting on the employer's site.

  7. Neuralink · Austin, TX; South San Francisco, CA

    Class year not stated Controls/robotics Photonics/optics

Other disciplines

Embedded systems & firmware · FPGA, RTL & ASIC design and verification · Analog & mixed-signal · RF, microwave & wireless · Power electronics · PCB & hardware design · Test, validation & reliability · Controls, robotics & GNC