Intern, Optical Packaging - Optical Characterization & Automation

Intern, Optical Packaging - Optical Characterization & Automation

Term: May to August 2027

Please note:

• Position location is on-site in San Jose Office

• There is no immigration (except F1) or relocation support for this position

• Posting expires upon application threshold

Position Description

Ayar Labs, the global leader in optical I/O chiplets, is harnessing silicon photonics to revolutionize the scaling of AI compute hardware. Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models.

Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world’s leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures.

Our Optical Packaging team develops the fiber-to-chip interfaces, optical connectors, and assembly processes that carry light into and out of Ayar Labs’ optical I/O chiplets. We are looking for an intern to help build the automated test stations that characterize these interfaces. You will write Python software that controls motorized stages and optical instruments, run alignment and coupling measurements on fiber arrays and packaged parts, and make those measurements repeatable and easy to analyze. These findings will feed directly into future designs, assembly processes, and component specifications.

This is a hands-on lab role. Projects are scoped to your background and interests. You will be mentored by the Optical Packaging team and will work alongside test, characterization, and process engineers.

Responsibilities

• Write and maintain Python code that controls motorized stages, laser sources, power meters, and cameras for automated optical measurements.

• Develop automated alignment routines, such as fiber-array scans and coupling optimization, and use them to characterize alignment tolerance.

• Set up and align optical test fixtures for fiber arrays, optical connectors, and packaged photonic interfaces.

• Run repeatability studies on test stations and help identify sources of drift or measurement error.

• Record measurement data with device identity and test conditions attached, and build scripts or dashboards that summarize results.

• Document setups and procedures, and present results to the Optical Packaging team at the end of the internship.

Intern Skillset Needed

• Lab automation and instrument control in Python (e.g., VISA/SCPI, serial communication, or vendor SDKs)

• Experience with motorized stages and controllers (e.g., Thorlabs, Newport)

• Coursework or research in optics or photonics

• Hands-on optical alignment experience; fiber-array or fiber-optic handling is a plus

• Data analysis in Python (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib)

• Preferred: experience with machine vision or camera-based alignment

• Preferred: familiarity with version control (Git)

Education Requirements

• Candidate should be actively pursuing a Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in Optical/Photonics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Applied Physics

Pay Range: $50 - 60/hourly, depending on education level

NOTE TO RECRUITERS:

Principals only. We are not accepting resumes from recruiters for this position. Remuneration for recruiting activities is only applicable subject to a signed and executed agreement between the parties. Please don’t send candidates to Ayar Labs, and do not contact our managers.

Ayar Labs is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.