Optical Test Engineer

Neurophos; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Unlimited PTO

401(k) + stock options

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Neurophos is seeking an Optical Test Engineer in Austin, TX to execute structured test plans for metasurface photonic devices and automate data acquisition with Python. You will perform spectral and electro-optic measurements, analyze large datasets, and document results for the engineering team.

The role emphasizes hands-on optics work, test setup development, and growing ownership of measurement methodology in a startup environment focused on AI hardware and photonics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in optics, photonics, physics, or electrical engineering.
• Hands-on optics lab experience from undergraduate research, senior design, internship, or professional work.
• Experience with free-space optical alignment using lasers, lenses, and detectors.
• Familiarity with spectroscopy, polarization, interference, and resonant optical structures.
• Proficiency in Python for data analysis and instrument control.
• Strong attention to detail and meticulous documentation habits.
• Clear written and verbal communication of technical results.

Responsibilities

• Execute structured optical test plans to characterize die-level metasurface photonic devices, measuring spectral reflectance, resonance, and electro-optic responses.
• Perform spectral measurements using broadband sources, tunable lasers, NIR spectrometers, and microscope-based IR imaging.
• Assist in building and improving test setups.
• Conduct voltage-driven electro-optic measurements using arbitrary waveform generators and fast photodetectors.
• Carry out die-to-die and wafer-level measurement campaigns with careful calibration, alignment, and documentation.
• Produce statistical datasets that drive fabrication yield and device performance analyses.
• Write and maintain Python scripts for instrument control, test automation, and data acquisition to increase throughput.
• Analyze, visualize, and summarize measurements (wavelength, linewidth, extinction, modulation, response times) and communicate findings.
• Perform supporting electrical measurements including continuity and impedance verification of packaged devices.
• Develop expertise in photonic device testing and metasurface characterization with increasing ownership over time.

Skills

Python

Optics lab

Free-space alignment

Spectroscopy

Data analysis

Communication

Education

B.S. in Optics/Photronics/EE

Tools

Python (instrument control)

LabVIEW

Job description

About Neurophos

The demand for new data centers and AI compute is rapidly outpacing the planet's energy capacity. Digital solutions are hitting a power wall as we approach the physical limits of traditional silicon. Conquering this bottleneck means rethinking the fundamental architecture of inference compute. The industry's current path can't meet the need, so we're taking a different approach.

Instead of traditional electronic circuits, we use silicon photonics and an active, programmable metasurface to perform matrix multiplications at the speed of light. Our optical cells are 10,000x smaller than traditional photonic components, enabling unprecedented density. By using photonics instead of electricity, our chips become more efficient as they scale. This architecture will deliver up to 100 times the energy efficiency of existing solutions while significantly improving performance for large-scale AI inference.

We’ve assembled a world-class team of industry veterans and recently raised a $110M Series A led by Gates Frontier. Participants include M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), Carbon Direct Capital, Aramco Ventures, Bosch Ventures, Tectonic Ventures, Space Capital, and others.

Join us and shape the future of computing!

Position Overview

The Optical Test Engineer is responsible for executing structured test plans to characterize metasurface-based photonic devices at both the die and wafer levels. They will perform critical spectral and electro-optic measurements and use Python to automate data acquisition and improve measurement throughput. This role involves analyzing large datasets to drive fabrication yield assessments, maintaining meticulous documentation of measurement campaigns, and communicating technical findings to the engineering team.

Location

Austin, TX. Full-time onsite position.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute structured optical test plans to characterize die-level metasurface photonic devices, measuring spectral reflectance, resonance, and electro-optic responses.

• Perform spectral measurements using broadband sources, tunable lasers, NIR spectrometers, and microscope-based IR imaging.

• Assist in building and improving test setups.

• Conduct voltage-driven electro-optic measurements using arbitrary waveform generators and fast photodetectors.

• Carry out die-to-die and wafer-level measurement campaigns with careful attention to calibration, alignment, repeatability, and documentation.

• Produce the statistical datasets that drive assessments of fabrication yield and device performance.

• Write and maintain Python scripts for instrument control, test automation, and data acquisition to increase measurement throughput and consistency.

• Analyze, visualize, and summarize measurements (resonance wavelength, linewidth, extinction ratio, modulation depth, and response times) and communicate findings.

• Perform supporting electrical measurements, including continuity and impedance verification of packaged devices.

• Develop expertise in photonic device testing and metasurface characterization, with opportunities to take on increasing ownership of measurement methodology over time.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Optics, Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.

• Hands‑on experience in an optics laboratory - undergraduate research, senior design, internship, or professional experience are all relevant.

• Experience with free‑space optical alignment involving lasers, lenses, and detectors.

• Familiarity with core optics concepts: spectroscopy, polarization, interference, and resonant optical structures.

• Proficiency in Python for data analysis; willingness to develop instrumentation control and test automation skills.

• Strong attention to detail, disciplined documentation habits, and comfort with precision‑critical measurement work.

• Clear written and verbal communication of technical results.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with optical characterization instruments such as spectrometers, tunable lasers, lock‑in amplifiers, or motorized stages.

• Exposure to electro‑optic devices, liquid crystals, metasurfaces, or nanophotonics.

• Experience with instrument control via Python (e.g., PyVISA, SCPI) or LabVIEW.

• Basic electrical measurement skills (oscilloscopes, function generators, multimeters, probe stations).

• Coursework or research involving statistics and data analysis of experimental datasets.

What We Offer

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in an innovative startup redefining the future of AI hardware. Work on game‑changing technology at the intersection of photonics and AI as part of a collaborative, brilliant team. You’ll contribute to a platform that redefines computational performance and accelerates the future of artificial intelligence. Come help us bring this transformative technology to the world.

Benefits

Join a team that invests in your future and your well‑being. At Neurophos, we offer:

• 100%

• coverage of base health plan premiums for you and your dependents, plus HSA contributions.

• Unlimited PTO. No rigid vacation banks, just a focus on delivery.

• 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities to ensure our success is your success.

• Full suite of voluntary benefits, including Dental, Vision, Life, Hospital, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance.

• Personalized Benefits. Choose the plans that fit your life and take the cash back for those that don’t.