2027 Quantum Summer Internship Program

Monarch Quantum Summer Internship Program

The Monarch Quantum Summer Internship Program offers students the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology shaping the future of quantum computing. Interns join multidisciplinary teams and contribute to real engineering projects supporting quantum hardware, software, and system-level development.

About the Role

As a Monarch intern, you may help design or test opto-mechanical components, build experimental setups, develop control or automation software, analyze system performance, or support integration of quantum-safe technologies—depending on your background and interests. Interns collaborate closely with experienced engineers and researchers while gaining hands-on experience in a fast-moving, industry-focused environment. We encourage applications from students who are curious, motivated, and excited to apply their technical skills to emerging quantum photonic technologies.

Project Examples

• Develop a test fixture for assessing the stability of opto-mechanical bonds & assemblies and perform stability experiments. This includes defining test goals & requirements, executing mechanical & optical design of a fixture and test station, facilitating material procurement, building the assembly, executing testing, compiling results, and delivering a presentation.
• Work hands-on with an optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) system in an ISO-7 laboratory. Project opportunities include material characterization; device-level semiconductor laser characterization (spectral analysis, power-efficiency measurements); and optical and thermal modeling using tools such as Zemax, COMSOL, SolidWorks, and ANSYS.
• Contribute to the optical design of components and lenses for next-generation laser modules. Develop and design test stations to evaluate components and full module assemblies, build and operate these test stations to collect and analyze performance data, and support the development and validation of new design methodologies.
• Support the development of advanced automated pick-and-place routines for a robotic cell consisting of multiple 6-DOF industrial robots. This includes designing, implementing, and testing motion control algorithms that improve accuracy, speed, and reliability of component handling. Collaborate with robotics engineers to develop end-to-end workflows, including path planning, error detection, sensor integration, and automation sequencing.
• Design a reliability test station for photonics components. Develop requirements, procure parts, and build a test system that allows a laser to auto-focus into a micron-sized target. Utilize CAD software to design the test layout and set up the experiment in a cleanroom laser laboratory. Write a script in Python or LabView to perform the auto-focusing calibration routine.
• Design, analyze, document, and test electrical systems and prototypes. Responsibilities include schematic development, PCB documentation, data analysis, test execution, and supporting failure analysis and corrective actions.
• Support the build and test of existing and novel External Cavity Diode Laser (ECDL) products through lab experiments. Design and execute tests to prove components and full laser assemblies. Project opportunities include building and characterizing laser cavities with novel components, designing diode test stations, improving alignment processes, and modeling laser systems.
• Develop FPGA-based systems using hybrid C/C++ and HDL architectures, including designing interfaces to ADCs, DACs, microcontrollers, and other components. Support the creation and testing of advanced data acquisition and analysis systems, participate in hardware-firmware integration, and contribute to reviews, verification, and documentation.
• Support the development of automated optical assembly processes, focusing on investigating adhesive properties and performance when bonding precision optics to metal components. Design and execute experiments to characterize adhesive behavior, develop and refine process parameters, and evaluate the impact on optical performance and assembly quality.
• (BOSTON OFFICE) Design, simulate, and fabricate photonic integrated circuits (PICs) on different integrated photonics platforms. Simulate devices with tools such as Lumerical, Tidy3D, or COMSOL, lay out circuits for tape-out, and process devices in the cleanroom using lithography, etching, and thin-film deposition. Characterize fabricated structures using SEM, AFM, and ellipsometry.
• (BOSTON OFFICE) Characterize photonic integrated circuits (PICs) on different integrated photonics platforms. Design experiments, build free-space and fiber-coupled test setups, and measure lasers, passive devices, and modulators. Measure propagation loss, coupling efficiency, bandwidth, and extinction ratio. Write Python scripts to automate data collection and analysis.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• This internship position requires access to export-controlled information.
• Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person.

Qualifications

• Opportunities are available for students at the bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels.
• We welcome students from a wide range of fields, including:
• Physics, Applied Physics, or related disciplines
• Optical Engineering or Optics
• Electrical, Electronic, or Systems Engineering
• Firmware Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Software Engineering
• Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or Mechatronics

Benefits

Hourly pay ranges from $23 to $45, commensurate with academic level.