Photonics Test Development Engineer

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?