Demo

Photonics Test Development Engineer

Acceler8 Talent
Boulder, CO Full Time
POSTED ON 9/18/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/17/2026

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?

Salary : $140,000 - $180,000

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