Photonics Test Engineer

Acceler8 Talent; California; On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Acceler8 Talent is seeking a Photonics Test Engineer to lead PIC characterization and automation for advanced integrated photonic hardware. You will build and run optical/electro‑optical test setups, calibrate fiber‑to‑chip coupling, and develop Python‑based automation to generate reliable data.

This US-based onsite role focuses on hands‑on testing of photonic ICs and close collaboration with design and fabrication teams. The position offers a competitive base salary plus equity.

Qualifications

• Hands-on photonic integrated circuit testing.
• Experience building test setups from scratch.
• Automating measurements and debugging device behavior.
• Collaborating with design and fabrication teams.

Responsibilities

• PIC testing and characterization.
• Fiber-to-chip coupling and alignment.
• Optical/electro-optical test setups.
• Python-based automation.
• Reliability and failure analysis.

Skills

PIC testing

Fiber-to-chip coupling

Automation

Python

Optical test

Cryogenic testing

Tools

Lasers

Detectors

Waveguides

Job description

Photonics Test Engineer | PIC Characterization & Automation

Can you take a photonic chip from “it should work” to “here’s the data proving it does”?

I’m working with early-stage hardware companies developing advanced integrated photonic systems and looking for engineers who can own the test and characterization side of the development cycle.

These teams are building new photonic hardware that needs optical and electro-optical test infrastructure to move from prototype devices into reliable systems.

What you could work on:

• PIC testing and characterization
• Fiber-to-chip coupling and alignment
• Optical / electro-optical test setups
• Python-based automation
• Lasers, modulators, detectors, waveguides and couplers
• Insertion loss, bandwidth, coupling efficiency and polarization
• Reliability and failure analysis
• Cryogenic test experience is a bonus

What they’re looking for:

Hands‑on experience testing photonic integrated circuits, not just free‑space optics.

The strongest candidates will be comfortable building setups from scratch, automating measurements, debugging unexpected device behaviour and feeding results back into design and fabrication teams.

US‑based, onsite opportunities

$150K–$220K base + equity, depending on experience

If your background sits at the intersection of integrated photonics, optical characterization and automation, I’d love to hear from you.