Quality & Reliability, Intern Summer 2027

Lightmatter
Mountain View, CA

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience in hardware testing and an interest in photonics.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on test setup experience and interest in photonic systems
    — “build and automate test setups, run real reliability experiments”
  • Students with coursework in optics, photonics, or semiconductor devices
    — “Coursework or projects in optics, photonics, or semiconductor devices”
  • Individuals who thrive in collaborative, lab-based environments
    — “mentored by our reliability and test team in the Mountain View lab”

Things to consider

  • Must be eligible to comply with U.S. export control laws
    — “Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws”
  • Hourly pay is standard and based on location and experience
    — “Our internship hourly rates are a standard pay determined based on the position and your location, year in school, degree, and experience”

How to stand out

  • Highlight Python automation and instrument driver development experience
    — “write Python automation scripts and instrument drivers”
  • Emphasize experience with hardware testing equipment like oscilloscopes and thermal sensors
    — “Familiarity with hardware testing equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and thermal sensors”
  • Showcase ability to analyze test data and communicate findings clearly
    — “Analyze test data and present findings to key stakeholders”
  • Demonstrate experience in failure analysis and root-cause documentation
    — “Support failure analysis by isolating root causes and documenting results”
  • Demonstrate adaptability and curiosity in learning about photonics and AI infrastructure
    — “Willingness and curiosity to learn from an exciting team!”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • build and automate test setups
  • run real reliability experiments
  • present data to key stakeholders
  • support failure analysis
Typical background
Electrical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringComputer Science

Skills & requirements

Required

Test Automation ToolsPythonBasic ElectronicsCircuitsEmbedded SystemsProblem-solvingAnalytical SkillsHands-on Lab Environment

Preferred

OpticsPhotonicsSemiconductor DevicesInstrument Control ProtocolsReliability Concepts

Stack & domain

PythonProblem-solvingAnalytical SkillsElectronicsEmbedded SystemsOpticsPhotonicsSemiconductor Devices

About the role

Original posting from Lightmatter via Greenhouse

Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world’s first 3D-stacked photonics engine, Passage™, capable of connecting thousands to millions of processors at the speed of light in extreme-scale data centers for the most advanced AI and HPC workloads.

Lightmatter raised $400 million in its Series D round, reaching a valuation of $4.4 billion. We will continue to accelerate the development of data center photonics and grow every department at Lightmatter!

If you're passionate about tackling complex challenges, making an impact, and being an expert in your craft, join our team of brilliant scientists, engineers, and accomplished industry leaders.

Lightmatter is (re)inventing the future of computing with light!

About this job 

This team makes sure Lightmatter’s products hold up in the real world AI data centers. As an intern you’ll build and automate test setups, run real reliability experiments, and present your data to the engineers who design the product — mentored by our reliability and test team in the Mountain View lab.

Responsibilities:

Perform reliability and characterization tests on photonic and electronic hardware.

Set up test stations and write Python automation scripts and instrument drivers.

Analyze test data and present findings to key stakeholders.

Support failure analysis by isolating root causes and documenting results.

Maintain test procedures and contribute to reliability reports and qualification plans.

Requirements: 

Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field

Basic knowledge of test automation tools, python is preferred

Familiarity with hardware testing equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and thermal sensors

Understanding of basic electronics, circuits, and embedded systems

Strong problem-solving and analytical skills

Ability to work in a hands-on lab environment

Willingness and curiosity to learn from an exciting team!

Preferred Qualifications

Coursework or projects in optics, photonics, or semiconductor devices

Experience with instrument control protocols (SCPI, VISA, GPIB) or data-acquisition hardware

Exposure to reliability or qualification concepts (e.g., thermal cycling, HTOL, failure analysis)

Experience working in a lab environment

Our internship hourly rates are a standard pay determined based on the position and your location, year in school, degree, and experience.

Hourly Rate in USD$43—$47 USDBenefits

Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)

Retirement Savings Matching Program

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)

Generous Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)

Paid Family Leave

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Training & Development

Commuter Benefits

Flexible, hybrid workplace model

Equity grants (applicable to full-time employees)

Benefits eligibility may vary depending on your employment status and location. Lightmatter recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

Export Control

Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws. 

Source: Lightmatter careers (Greenhouse)

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