Photonics Test Automation & Measurement Engineer

Monarch Quantum in is looking for a Photonics Test Automation & Measurement Engineer to own the hands-on characterization of our photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in our Boston office. You will build and run free space and fiber-coupled optical setups, align and image modes, and develop the automated test infrastructure needed to measure device performance accurately and repeatably. Design and simulation experience is a plus, but the core of this role is measurement.

This role suits an engineer who enjoys working at the bench, building free space optical setups, aligning fiber and free space paths to PICs, and turning manual measurement procedures into robust, automated test systems.

Responsibilities

• Measure and characterize photonic integrated circuits (PICs), including passive and active devices, on the bench and at wafer scale
• Build, align, and maintain free space optical setups (lenses, mirrors, beam splitters, polarization optics) for coupling light into and out of PICs
• Perform and optimize fiber-to-chip and free space-to-chip coupling, including active alignment and edge/grating coupler characterization
• Image and analyze optical mode profiles using cameras and beam profilers to evaluate mode quality, mode field diameter, and coupling efficiency
• Build and maintain automated test infrastructure for optical and electrical device characterization (swept lasers, power meters, OSA, VNA, real-time scopes, probe stations, source measurement units)
• Develop Python-based test automation and data analysis pipelines, working within existing codebases and extending them with new capabilities
• Apply statistical methods (design of experiments, Gage R&R, process control) to qualify test systems and ensure repeatable measurements
• Analyze measurement data to validate designs, identify discrepancies, and feed learnings back to the design team
• Document test procedures, setup configurations, and results for design, fabrication, and product teams
• Contribute to photonic component design and simulation (e.g., with Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL, or gdsfactory)

Please note: This position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).  

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience)
• Hands-on experience measuring and characterizing photonic devices or PICs, including free space and fiber-coupled setups
• Practical experience building basic free space optical setups (alignment, mounting, beam steering) from opto-mechanical components
• Experience with fiber coupling and free space coupling techniques, including active/passive alignment to chips
• Experience with mode imaging and beam profiling equipment (cameras, beam profilers) and analyzing mode field data
• Proficiency in Python for test automation and data analysis; comfort working in and extending existing codebases
• Experience with photonic and electrical test equipment (swept lasers, fiber alignment stages, oscilloscopes, source measurement units)
• Working knowledge of statistical data analysis and test qualification methods, including data analysis at wafer scale
• Experience building or extending test setup automation
• Familiarity with photonic design/simulation tools (Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL, gdsfactory) is a plus but not required
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to work across design, fabrication, and test teams

The expected annual salary range for this position is $125,000-$175,000. 

As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for Monarch’s comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching
• 20 paid time off (PTO) days per year
• 13 paid company holidays
• 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)

Monarch Quantum is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.

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