Photonics Test Development Engineer

Acceler8 Talent; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Acceler8 Talent in Boulder, CO seeks a Photonics Test Development Engineer to build and own the optical/electro-optical characterization capability for photonic integrated circuits. You will design fiber-coupled test stations, automate measurement workflows, and develop the data infrastructure needed to advance device generations.

Key focus areas include fiber-to-chip coupling, automated alignment, motion-stage control, and Python-based test software for control, acquisition and analysis across

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience building or substantially developing PIC test stations.
• Experience with fiber-to-chip coupling and optical alignment.
• Experience with automated motion stages and laboratory instruments.
• Proficiency in writing Python code for test control, data acquisition and analysis.
• Experience characterizing devices at die, wafer or packaged-device level.
• Cross-domain experience in optical and electrical measurements.
• Ability to diagnose measurement stability and repeatability problems.
• Ambition to own test infrastructure rather than just operate equipment.

Responsibilities

• Build and own automated fiber-coupled photonic integrated circuit test stations.
• Develop repeatable fiber-to-chip alignment methods and automate positioning stages.
• Automate lab instruments and data acquisition for characterization workflows.
• Write and maintain Python software for control, data collection and analysis.
• Characterize passive and active PICs across multiple device levels.
• Feed characterization results back into design and fabrication cycles.

Skills

PIC test stations

fiber-to-chip alignment

automation experience

Python programming

test infrastructure ownership

Tools

Python

Job description

Photonics Test Development Engineer

Boulder, Colorado, United States (On-site)

On-site | Boulder, CO

$140K–$180K base + equity

I’m working with a well-funded deep-tech startup developing a new integrated-photonics platform for advanced computing applications.

They are hiring a Photonics Test Development Engineer to build and own the company’s optical and electro-optical characterization capability.

This is not a generic optics or validation position. You’ll personally develop the fiber-coupled test stations, automation and data infrastructure needed to characterize photonic integrated circuits and improve subsequent device generations.

You’ll work on problems such as:

• Building automated fiber-coupled PIC characterization stations


• Developing repeatable fiber-to-chip alignment methods


• Automating positioning stages and laboratory instruments


• Writing Python software for control, acquisition and analysis


• Characterizing passive and active integrated photonic devices


• Measuring loss, coupling efficiency, bandwidth and polarization response


• Improving calibration, repeatability and test throughput


• Diagnosing optical, electrical and alignment-related problems


• Developing test methods for new device operating environments


• Feeding characterization results back into design and fabrication.

Looking for engineers who have:

• Personally built or substantially developed PIC test stations


• Hands-on fiber-to-chip coupling and optical-alignment experience


• Automated motion stages and laboratory instruments


• Written Python code for test control, data acquisition and analysis


• Characterized devices at die, wafer or packaged-device level


• Worked across optical and electrical measurements


• Diagnosed measurement stability and repeatability problems


• Taken ownership of test infrastructure rather than only operating established equipment/

This is an opportunity to build a critical engineering capability from the ground up and own the test feedback loop connecting photonic design, fabrication and system development.

Worth a confidential chat?