ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Optical Engineer Intern Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

HyperLight

Software Engineer Intern

Cambridge, MA

$25 - $32/hr

Software Engineer Intern HyperLight is at the forefront of the commercialization of thin-film ... optical components across AI/datacom infrastructure, hyperscale computing, quantum computing ...

Materion

2026 Internship & Co-Op Program

Westford, MA

$15 - $25/hr

Junior or higher enrolled in Materials Science, Metallurgical, Mining, Chemical, Civil, Optical, Mechanical, Manufacturing Engineering, Business, Finance, Accounting, Communications, Computer Science ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsOptical Engineer Intern JobsOptical Engineer Intern Jobs in Boston, MA

Optical Engineer Intern information

See Boston, MA salary details

$14

$27

$42

How much do optical engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for optical engineer intern in Boston, MA is $27.61, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.45 and $31.35 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Optical Engineer Intern position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Optical Engineer Intern, you need a solid background in physics, optics, and mathematics, generally demonstrated through coursework or laboratory experience in optical engineering or related fields. Familiarity with optical design software (such as Zemax or Code V), CAD programs, and laboratory instrumentation is often required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, effective communication, and the ability to work collaboratively make candidates stand out. These skills enable interns to contribute meaningfully to technical projects, accurately perform experiments, and smoothly integrate with multidisciplinary engineering teams.

What kinds of projects or tasks do Optical Engineer Interns typically work on during their internship?

Optical Engineer Interns often contribute to a variety of projects, such as assisting in the design and optimization of optical systems, supporting laboratory experiments, analyzing test data, and building prototypes for product development. Interns may work closely with senior engineers to develop optical models or perform simulations, and may also be involved in troubleshooting system issues or improving manufacturing processes. The work is typically hands-on and collaborative, offering frequent opportunities to learn from experienced professionals and to gain real-world experience in the field. This exposure provides interns with valuable technical skills and insight into the daily responsibilities of an optical engineer.

What does an Optical Engineer Intern do?

An Optical Engineer Intern assists in designing, testing, and optimizing optical systems, such as lenses, lasers, and imaging devices. They work under experienced engineers to conduct experiments, analyze data, and develop prototypes. Their responsibilities may also include running simulations, troubleshooting optical components, and documenting findings. This role provides hands-on experience in optics and photonics, crucial for careers in research, manufacturing, and product development.

What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Engineer jobs in Boston, MA? The most popular types of Optical Engineer jobs in Boston, MA are:
What are popular job titles related to Optical Engineer Intern jobs in Boston, MA? For Optical Engineer Intern jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Optical Engineer Intern jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Optical Engineer Intern jobs in Boston, MA are:
What cities near Boston, MA are hiring for Optical Engineer Intern jobs? Cities near Boston, MA with the most Optical Engineer Intern job openings:
Optical Engineer Intern jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optical Engineer Intern job openings in Boston, MA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 17% Internship, 17% Full Time, 49% Part Time, and 17% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $57,435 per year, or $27.6 per hour.
Software Engineer Intern

Software Engineer Intern

HyperLight

Cambridge, MA

$25 - $32/hr

Temporary

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Software Engineer Intern

HyperLight is at the forefront of the commercialization of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) integrated photonics - a material and process technology that is enabling high-performance, scalable optical components across AI/datacom infrastructure, hyperscale computing, quantum computing, sensing, and beyond. Founded in 2018 and backed by leading venture capital, we've built a team and a platform focused on real-world mass deployment of TFLN photonics technology.

At the core of our work is the TFLN Chiplet platform - a modular, integrated architecture designed for scalability, manufacturability, and seamless integration into complex systems. It offers a rare combination of extraordinary performance and industrial readiness, enabling system developers across applications to deploy the technology fast and ready. We partner with our customers and suppliers from conceptualization, design, and prototyping phases, all the way through mass production to ensure smooth and rapid deployment of TFLN photonic technology.

We believe our platform is the key, in the golden age of integrated photonics, to empower humanity to the next level. We assembled a world class team covering engineering, business, and operations. We believe in the power of integrity, innovation, collaboration, and pragmatic solutions. Our diverse team thrives on challenges and is united by a shared commitment to excellence. We take pride in tackling complex challenges with curiosity, humility, and a deep sense of care for one another.

As HyperLight continues to expand, we are looking for a Software Engineer Intern to join our team. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop internal software applications and tools that support our R&D data analytics work. The role involves hands-on experience building and maintaining software that helps teams collect, manage, analyze, and visualize experimental and production data. This is a rare opportunity to apply your software engineering skills in a rapidly advancing field and gain exposure to the development cycle of next-generation photonic technologies.

Responsibilities:

  • Develop internal software applications and tools to support R&D data analytics workflows
  • Build and enhance interactive dashboards for visualizing real-world experimental and production data
  • Analyze large experimental datasets to extract insights and identify trends or anomalies
  • Design, maintain, and optimize relational and non-relational databases
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand data needs and deliver software and analytics solutions

Requirements

  • Current Ph.D., Master's, or Bachelor's student in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or a related field
  • Mastery of data structures and algorithms. Understanding of core software engineering and database concepts
  • Familiarity with database systems and proficiency in SQL
  • Proficiency in Python for data manipulation, automation, and analysis (e.g., using pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn)
  • Experience building software applications or tools (e.g., web apps, internal tooling, backend services) is a plus
  • Experience with data pipeline tools, schema migration frameworks, or backend infrastructure is a plus
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Self-motivated, collaborative, and eager to learn in a dynamic environment
  • 3-month internship duration, on-site, based in Cambridge, MA
  • Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States

Benefits

What we provide:

  • Challenging and practical software development projects using Python and modern related technologies
  • Hands-on experience with modern tools in software engineering, data engineering, analytics, and visualization
  • Real-world impact in photonic product development and manufacturing
  • Mentorship and collaboration with leading experts in photonics, data science, and software engineering
  • Competitive market-based compensation (Pay range of $25 - $32 per hour)

Apply