Entry Level Photonics Engineer Jobs
New grad photonics engineer jobs are open to recent graduates and entry level candidates with little to no experience, where a strong capstone project, internship, or lab portfolio can outweigh a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Electronics & Hardware, Manufacturing, and Telecommunications, with employers like Nokia, AMD, and Intel hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 9+ Entry Level Photonics Engineer jobs
Job Description
Number of Positions: 2
Duration: 4 months
Date: Sept 2026 - Dec 2026
Location: Onsite in Sunnyvale, CA, or New York, NY
Education Recommendations
Current M.S. or Ph.D. student in electrical engineering, physics, applied physics, or other similar fields with an accredited university in the USA.
How You Will Contribute And What You Will Learn
We are searching for a Silicon Photonics Packaging Co-op for our Fall 2026 Term to engage in the research and development of silicon photonics transceiver modules.
- Develop semiconductor and optical packaging processes in-house, or in close partnership with contract manufacturers.
- Design optical transceiver packages in collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure package requirements are met.
- Own Design Rules documents and ensure Design for Manufacturing specifications are met.
- Perform mechanical integrity and thermal simulations, tolerance analyses and characterization.
- Drive package debug activities during product validation and qualification.
- Plan and Drive prototype assembly builds to enable deliveries for early design validation.
- Apply in-depth knowledge of advanced packaging principles and stay current with new technological advancements.
Key Skills And Experience
- Experience with package and process design/development from design to production.
- Knowledge of design for manufacturing, 2.5D/3D packaging, and TSVs.
- Experience with documentation of fabrication, inspection, and assembly processes.
- Solid interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills in order to interact with engineering staff, external vendors and contractors effectively.
It would be nice if you also had:
- Understanding of optical epoxies, non-hermetic packaging, and high-volume packaging and thermal analysis of 2.5/3D packages.
- Experience in the semiconductor chip and wafer-level back-end processing, assembly, and/or packaging.
- Experience in high-speed electronics package design and/or laser package design.
- Experience with thermo-mechanical simulations using ANSYS or similar software.
- Experience with metrology techniques such as SEM/XSEM, confocal microscopy, or acoustic imaging.
- Familiarity with design and simulations of optical packaging using free space optics or fiber coupling.
About us
Advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile and transport networks, powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world. Learn more about life at Nokia.
Our recruitment process
We act inclusively and respect the uniqueness of people. Our employment decisions are made regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to a culture of inclusion built upon our core value of respect. If you’re interested in this role but don’t meet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enrich our teams, and you may be just the right candidate for this or another opportunity. The length of the recruitment process may vary depending on the specific role's requirements. We strive to ensure a smooth and inclusive experience for all candidates. Discover more about the recruitment process at Nokia.
About The Team
Some of our benefits for students in the US:
- Flexible and hybrid working schemes to balance study, work, and life
- Professional development events and networking opportunities
- Well-being programs, including Personal Support Service 24/7 - a confidential support channel open to all Nokia employees and their families in challenging situations
- Opportunities to join Nokia Employee Resource Groups (NERGs) and build connections across the organization
- Employee Growth Solutions, mentorship programs, and coaching support for your career development
- A learning environment that fosters both personal growth and professional development – for your role and beyond
Disclaimer for US/Canada
Nokia maintains broad annual base salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience and market conditions, and with consideration to internal peer equity. Check the salary ranges in the job info section for this role.
All North America job posts will post for a minimum of 3 calendar days and up to 180 days or until candidate/s identified.
Job Description
Number of Positions: 2
Duration: 4 months
Date: Sept 2026 - Dec 2026
Location: Onsite in Sunnyvale, CA, or New York, NY
Education Recommendations
Current M.S. or Ph.D. student in electrical engineering, physics, applied physics, or other similar fields with an accredited university in the USA.
How You Will Contribute And What You Will Learn
We are searching for a Silicon Photonics Packaging Co-op for our Fall 2026 Term to engage in the research and development of silicon photonics transceiver modules.
- Develop semiconductor and optical packaging processes in-house, or in close partnership with contract manufacturers.
- Design optical transceiver packages in collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure package requirements are met.
- Own Design Rules documents and ensure Design for Manufacturing specifications are met.
- Perform mechanical integrity and thermal simulations, tolerance analyses and characterization.
- Drive package debug activities during product validation and qualification.
- Plan and Drive prototype assembly builds to enable deliveries for early design validation.
- Apply in-depth knowledge of advanced packaging principles and stay current with new technological advancements.
Key Skills And Experience
- Experience with package and process design/development from design to production.
- Knowledge of design for manufacturing, 2.5D/3D packaging, and TSVs.
- Experience with documentation of fabrication, inspection, and assembly processes.
- Solid interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills in order to interact with engineering staff, external vendors and contractors effectively.
It would be nice if you also had:
- Understanding of optical epoxies, non-hermetic packaging, and high-volume packaging and thermal analysis of 2.5/3D packages.
- Experience in the semiconductor chip and wafer-level back-end processing, assembly, and/or packaging.
- Experience in high-speed electronics package design and/or laser package design.
- Experience with thermo-mechanical simulations using ANSYS or similar software.
- Experience with metrology techniques such as SEM/XSEM, confocal microscopy, or acoustic imaging.
- Familiarity with design and simulations of optical packaging using free space optics or fiber coupling.
About us
Advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile and transport networks, powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world. Learn more about life at Nokia.
Our recruitment process
We act inclusively and respect the uniqueness of people. Our employment decisions are made regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to a culture of inclusion built upon our core value of respect. If you’re interested in this role but don’t meet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enrich our teams, and you may be just the right candidate for this or another opportunity. The length of the recruitment process may vary depending on the specific role's requirements. We strive to ensure a smooth and inclusive experience for all candidates. Discover more about the recruitment process at Nokia.
About The Team
Some of our benefits for students in the US:
- Flexible and hybrid working schemes to balance study, work, and life
- Professional development events and networking opportunities
- Well-being programs, including Personal Support Service 24/7 - a confidential support channel open to all Nokia employees and their families in challenging situations
- Opportunities to join Nokia Employee Resource Groups (NERGs) and build connections across the organization
- Employee Growth Solutions, mentorship programs, and coaching support for your career development
- A learning environment that fosters both personal growth and professional development – for your role and beyond
Disclaimer for US/Canada
Nokia maintains broad annual base salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience and market conditions, and with consideration to internal peer equity. Check the salary ranges in the job info section for this role.
All North America job posts will post for a minimum of 3 calendar days and up to 180 days or until candidate/s identified.
See All 9 Entry Level Photonics Engineer Jobs
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Manufacturing
- Telecommunications
- Medical Devices
- Fashion & Apparel
Entry Level Photonics Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level photonics engineer job?
Employers hiring at this level look for hands-on experience with optical systems, laser components, or fiber optics gained through coursework, lab work, or internships. A strong capstone project or documented work with simulation tools like Zemax or COMSOL can set a new candidate apart. Applying to roles that explicitly list 0 to 2 years of experience keeps your search focused on positions built for this stage.
Which companies hire entry level photonics engineers?
Companies hiring entry level photonics engineers right now include Nokia, AMD, and Intel, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a mix of defense contractors, semiconductor firms, and research-driven technology companies that maintain active entry level pipelines.
Are there remote entry level photonics engineer jobs?
Yes, though the majority of openings require on-site work because of lab equipment and hardware requirements. About 0% of entry level photonics engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, so filtering by work setting when you search helps narrow results to what fits your situation.
Are these new grad photonics engineer jobs?
Yes, this page includes new grad, recent graduate, and junior photonics engineer roles alongside other entry level openings. A posting is typically new grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts internships or co-ops toward requirements, or accepts a strong portfolio in place of full-time work history. Look for language like "new graduate welcome" or "entry level" in the listing itself.
Which industries hire the most entry level photonics engineers?
Entry Level photonics engineer roles concentrate in Electronics & Hardware, Manufacturing, and Telecommunications, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. These sectors drive entry level hiring because they depend on optical and laser technologies that require a steady pipeline of newly trained engineers to support product development and research programs.