Hardware Test Engineering, Intern (Summer 2027)

About the Role

Are you ready to do meaningful internship work on technology that is changing how AI systems are built? The System Level Test team owns the final at-speed test of our silicon photonics products. These are cutting-edge high-speed optical interconnects built to move data between the processors that power AI datacenters, where copper is running out of reach and light is taking over. We build the test methods, the automation, and the data behind the pass vs fail decision. This summer's project is a hands-on optical characterization and correlation study aimed at improving how our products are tested in production. You will work on real optical hardware in the lab, build the measurement automation, generate the data, and write the recommendation that decides whether the approach moves forward. The result will directly influence how our next products are tested.

Key Responsibilities

• Characterize a set of silicon photonics units on bench optical instrumentation, measuring output power, modulation amplitude, extinction ratio, and wavelength.
• Build automation to run measurements, control the lab setup, and log results in a consistent, reusable data format.
• Correlate unit measurements against a calibrated laboratory reference and quantify per-unit offsets and population spread.
• Measure unit stability across time, temperature, and repeated re-insertion, and analyze repeatability and drift.
• Deliver a feasibility and gap assessment with a clear recommendation, including the calibration and maintenance scheme needed for production deployment.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's program in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• Coursework or project experience in at least one of: integrated circuit design, device or circuit characterization, or electrical or optical testing.
• Hands-on experience with standard lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, or optical power meters, from coursework, research, or a prior internship.
• Programming experience in Python or a similar language, including reading and plotting measurement data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research, lab, or prior internship experience in photonics or semiconductors.
• Experience automating lab instruments (PyVISA, SCPI, or similar).
• Familiarity with basic statistics: mean, standard deviation, repeatability, and gauge or measurement uncertainty.
• Publications, projects, or open-source contributions related to the role.

Hourly Rate in USD: $43 — $47 USD

Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.