Internship Mechanical Engineering | Fiber Collimator Design Optimization

NTS; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 5,000 - 6,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

€500 per month compensation

Travel allowance €0.21 per km

Free fruit at work

Challenging internship assignment

Mentorship from experienced engineers

Contribution to an existing product

Job summary

NTS Optel in the Netherlands invites a Mechanical Engineering student to join as an internship engineer. You will analyze the current fiber collimator design and test results to identify improvement opportunities and create robust, cost‑effective solutions.

Working with experienced optical and mechanical engineers, you will develop and evaluate new mechanical concepts, translate them into detailed drawings, and transfer the concept into a concrete design.

Qualifications

• You are an HBO or WO Mechanical Engineering student who likes solving technical problems.
• You work in a structured and analytical way.
• You are interested in precision mechanics and product development.
• Experience with CAD-programs, preferable with NX.

Responsibilities

• Analyze the current design and test results.
• Investigate technical challenges and improvement opportunities.
• Apply structured problem-solving methods.
• Develop and evaluate new mechanical design concepts.
• Transfer the concept into a detailed design (incl. drawings).
• Work together with experienced optical and mechanical engineers.
• If time permits: Support the manufacturing of parts and the build of a prototype.
• Set up a design validation plan and execute it.

Skills

NX CAD

Education

HBO/WO Mechanical Engineering student

Job description

At NTS, we make it possible together. Technology inspires and drives us; it is our passion. Every day, we work on unique solutions for complex challenges. Whether it's ultra-complex or ultra-precise solutions, we are proud of what we do and deliver. Do you want to discover what is possible together? Are you a Mechanical Engineering student who enjoys solving technical challenges and improving real products, looking for a company where you will have the freedom and right guidance? Choose an internship at NTS Optel and let's make it possible together.

Problem and the Assignment

In optics, we frequently need one-time manual adjustments that need to be:

• Lockable without change of setting
• Robust against mechanical and temperature shocks

Often we use off-the-shelf solutions that only meet some of these requirements. Sometimes we copy elements of existing designs, which often results in worse performance, as we did not have or take the time to analyze and improve/iterate the way OEM suppliers could.

Sometimes we need many degrees of freedom on one element with limited space available. Preferably, we would like to have these adjustments independent, which makes it even more complex.

An example of such a challenge is a fiber collimator. Here we need at least independent focus (z) and positioning (x, y) of the collimator lens with respect to the fiber tip. Commercial solutions are available, but they are not that great. For example: Thorlabs – FiberPort Collimators / Couplers.

In that solution, lens focus, tilt, and a small shift are all combined in the 3 z-adjusters. This is a nightmare to adjust. The locking mechanism is simply a counter nut on the adjustment screw, so you are dependent on the springs to keep everything in place. Tightening these counter nuts also causes the adjustment to go off.

Assignment

A previous intern designed a fiber collimator that has already been manufactured and is being tested during a second internship. The first prototype provided valuable insights, and several improvement opportunities have been identified.

Your challenge will be to develop the next-generation fiber collimator design and help create a better, more robust, and cost-effective solution. You will investigate current limitations, identify root causes, and translate your findings into practical design improvements.

What will you do?

• Analyze the current design and test results
• Investigate technical challenges and improvement opportunities
• Apply structured problem-solving methods
• Develop and evaluate new mechanical design concepts
• Transfer the concept into a detailed design (incl. drawings)
• Work together with experienced optical and mechanical engineers

If time permits:

• Support the manufacturing of parts and the build of a prototype
• Set up a design validation plan and execute it

Requirements

You are an HBO or WO Mechanical Engineering student who:

• Likes solving technical problems
• Works in a structured and analytical way
• Is interested in precision mechanics and product development
• Experience with CAD-programs, preferable with NX

Compensation

• Compensation of €500 per month
• Travel allowance of €0.21 per km
• Free fruit at work
• A challenging and practical internship assignment
• Experience in a high-tech engineering environment
• Professional guidance from experienced engineers
• The opportunity to make a real contribution to an existing product

About NTS

We provide unique solutions for complex challenges and drive the technological progress of our customers. By combining development, production, and assembly, we play an integral role in bringing together the supply chain. We combine the best skills and smartest ideas into a working system for the most advanced semiconductor, opto-mechatronic, and analytical solutions in the world. That is why we have grown into a Tier-1 supplier for OEMs and an international player operating from various locations in Europe, Asia, and the US.

While we offer our teams a great workplace all over the world, we do not forget to remain firmly rooted locally. Ultimately, the core of NTS is formed by our people. Their excellent craftsmanship, customer-oriented mentality, and clear technical solutions have made NTS what it is today. Together, we create a culture that everyone can be proud of, because we make it possible together. That is why we seize every opportunity to celebrate our people, our craftsmanship, and our successes.

Interested?