TFLN Team Intern – Design Automation

NTT Research Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 34,440 - 48,216; Full time

Job summary

A leader in photonic technologies seeks a highly motivated design automation intern in Sunnyvale, CA. You will work on automating the design-to-manufacturing transition for cutting-edge photonic devices, implementing scripts and improving workflows. Ideal candidates have a background in Electrical Engineering or related fields and possess strong analytical skills. This internship promises hands-on experience in a cutting-edge technology environment and a chance to drive innovation.

Qualifications

• Experience using scripting or software tools for process automation.
• Familiarity with foundry workflows for design, fabrication, and metrology.
• Exceptional candidates will be considered regardless of background.

Responsibilities

• Implement automation routines for photonics manufacturing workflow.
• Develop fabrication‑ready wafer layouts for photonic integrated circuits.
• Automate tape‑out of photonic circuit designs.

Skills

Scripting or software tools for process automation (e.g. Python)

Analytical and problem‑solving skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Education

Coursework in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Optics, or a related field

Pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in a related field

Job description

Job Summary

Engineering role focused on infrastructure development for facilitating the tape-out and characterization of compact, low-power, and high-performance photonic microsystems. These devices are targeted towards broad application spaces, including sensing, communications, and computation.

NTT Research Inc. is a leader in cutting-edge photonic technologies, driving innovation in telecommunications, optical computing, nonlinear optics, and quantum hardware. Our team is composed of world-class scientists and engineers developing next-generation optical systems; we aim to push the envelope at every level, from precision fabrication to system-scale design. We are now seeking a highly motivated and technically strong design automation intern to join our team and contribute to the advancement of technologies based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN).

Intern Responsibilities

As a design automation intern, you will be responsible for reducing barriers to transitioning integrated photonic devices and systems from designs into manufacturing. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team to develop and automate pipelines to improve manufacturability of cutting-edge TFLN devices.

• Implement automation routines for various stages of the design‑fabricate‑measure‑repeat workflow for photonics manufacturing
• Develop fabrication‑ready wafer layouts for photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
• Support design automation and enablement projects, depending on experience and length of internship. For example:

• Automate tape‑out of photonic circuit designs
• Streamline inline metrology and optical characterization of PICs
• Facilitate file preparation and data interchange
• Automate manufacturing data analysis and reporting

• Document and communicate research findings

Qualifications and Skills

• Exceptional candidates will be considered regardless of background.
• Experience using scripting or software tools for process automation (e.g. Python)
• Familiarity with foundry workflows for design, fabrication, and metrology
• Coursework in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Optics, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building dashboards or other graphical interfaces
• Experience with photonic chip design (GDSII layout, PDKs).
• Background in photonics fabrication.
• Experience working with academic or industry foundries.
• Pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in a related field
• Availability for 6+ month internship