Photonics Characterization Intern & New Grad (Silicon Photonics)

Location: Boston, MA, United States; flexible hybrid workplace model

Hourly range: $53–$65 USD

Company

hirify.global develops photonics-based data center infrastructure for advanced AI and high-performance computing workloads, including its 3D-stacked Passage photonics engine.

What you will do

• Participate in electro-optic testing of photonics chips and devices using laboratory optical instruments.
• Characterize silicon photonics components, including micro-rings, optical phase shifters, and Mach-Zehnder interferometers.
• Operate lasers, electro-optic modulators, semiconductor optical amplifiers, PIN receivers, optical spectrum analyzers, optical vector analyzers, and optical filters.
• Use semiconductor test equipment such as vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, source-meter units, arbitrary waveform generators, and high-speed oscilloscopes.
• Design and execute testing protocols for silicon photonics chips and subsystems.
• Develop automated testing and system interfaces using Python scripting.

Requirements

• Recent PhD graduate or PhD candidate in photonics, electrical engineering, physics, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of silicon photonics and demonstrated experience with electro-optic component testing.
• Experience developing and implementing automated testing systems with Python.
• Ability to translate test data into actionable strategies and solve complex technical problems independently in a laboratory environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Capacity to comply with federally mandated U.S. export control requirements.

Nice to have

• Microcontroller programming experience.
• Experience with high-speed instruments, communications, VNAs, optical links, high-speed PCBs, or microelectronics.
• Experience in a graduate-level photonics or electrical engineering laboratory.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible hybrid workplace model.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement savings matching program.
• Vacation, sick leave, public holidays, and paid family leave.
• Life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, training and development, and commuter benefits.
• Equity grants for eligible full-time employees.