Test Engineering Specialist Internships
Test engineering specialist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience developing and executing test plans, mentorship from working test engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in Technology & Software, with Skyworks Solutions, Tesla, and Rocket Lab USA among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 93+ Test Engineering Specialist Internships
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
Are you ready to do meaningful internship work on technology that is changing how AI systems are built? The System Level Test team owns the final at-speed test of our silicon photonics products. These are cutting-edge high-speed optical interconnects built to move data between the processors that power AI datacenters, where copper is running out of reach and light is taking over. We build the test methods, the automation, and the data behind the pass vs fail decision. This summer's project is a hands-on optical characterization and correlation study aimed at improving how our products are tested in production. You will work on real optical hardware in the lab, build the measurement automation, generate the data, and write the recommendation that decides whether the approach moves forward. The result will directly influence how our next products are tested.
Responsibilities:
- Characterize a set of silicon photonics units on bench optical instrumentation, measuring output power, modulation amplitude, extinction ratio, and wavelength.
- Build automation to run measurements, control the lab setup, and log results in a consistent, reusable data format.
- Correlate unit measurements against a calibrated laboratory reference and quantify per-unit offsets and population spread.
- Measure unit stability across time, temperature, and repeated re-insertion, and analyze repeatability and drift.
- Deliver a feasibility and gap assessment with a clear recommendation, including the calibration and maintenance scheme needed for production deployment.
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's program in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
- Coursework or project experience in at least one of: integrated circuit design, device or circuit characterization, or electrical or optical testing.
- Hands-on experience with standard lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, or optical power meters, from coursework, research, or a prior internship.
- Programming experience in Python or a similar language, including reading and plotting measurement data.
Preferred Qualifications
- Research, lab, or prior internship experience in photonics or semiconductors.
- Experience automating lab instruments (PyVISA, SCPI, or similar).
- Familiarity with basic statistics: mean, standard deviation, repeatability, and gauge or measurement uncertainty.
- Publications, projects, or open-source contributions related to the role.
Benefits
- 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.
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
Are you ready to do meaningful internship work on technology that is changing how AI systems are built? The System Level Test team owns the final at-speed test of our silicon photonics products. These are cutting-edge high-speed optical interconnects built to move data between the processors that power AI datacenters, where copper is running out of reach and light is taking over. We build the test methods, the automation, and the data behind the pass vs fail decision. This summer's project is a hands-on optical characterization and correlation study aimed at improving how our products are tested in production. You will work on real optical hardware in the lab, build the measurement automation, generate the data, and write the recommendation that decides whether the approach moves forward. The result will directly influence how our next products are tested.
Responsibilities:
- Characterize a set of silicon photonics units on bench optical instrumentation, measuring output power, modulation amplitude, extinction ratio, and wavelength.
- Build automation to run measurements, control the lab setup, and log results in a consistent, reusable data format.
- Correlate unit measurements against a calibrated laboratory reference and quantify per-unit offsets and population spread.
- Measure unit stability across time, temperature, and repeated re-insertion, and analyze repeatability and drift.
- Deliver a feasibility and gap assessment with a clear recommendation, including the calibration and maintenance scheme needed for production deployment.
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's program in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
- Coursework or project experience in at least one of: integrated circuit design, device or circuit characterization, or electrical or optical testing.
- Hands-on experience with standard lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, or optical power meters, from coursework, research, or a prior internship.
- Programming experience in Python or a similar language, including reading and plotting measurement data.
Preferred Qualifications
- Research, lab, or prior internship experience in photonics or semiconductors.
- Experience automating lab instruments (PyVISA, SCPI, or similar).
- Familiarity with basic statistics: mean, standard deviation, repeatability, and gauge or measurement uncertainty.
- Publications, projects, or open-source contributions related to the role.
Benefits
- 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.
Test Engineering Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Skyworks Solutions14
- Tesla8
- Rocket Lab USA4
- Vertiv3
- Blue Origin3
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your Test Engineering Specialist Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large employers in aerospace, semiconductor, and defense fill summer test engineering specialist cohorts months before the start date, with many deadlines landing in October or November. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so check listings regularly year-round rather than waiting until spring.
Build a testable portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for test engineering specialist internships want evidence of practical work, not just a list of courses. Document two or three projects, whether hardware validation exercises, automated test scripts, or lab reports, naming the tools you used and hosting the work somewhere reviewers can actually open it, such as a GitHub repository or a linked project write-up.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured intern programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles appear publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time, since many test engineering specialist openings never reach campus and the two channels together widen your reach significantly.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Test engineering specialist intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering circuit analysis, debugging scenarios, or test methodology questions alongside a behavioral component. Practice answering out loud and explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you approach a problem as much as whether you land on the right answer.
Target structured rotational and cohort programs early
Larger companies in manufacturing, defense, and semiconductors run formal test engineering intern pipelines, often rotational programs that move you across teams and product lines. These are built for candidates new to the field, recruit heavily in the fall, and fill in the first application wave, so identify the programs that fit your background and apply as soon as they open.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 55% of the test engineering specialist internships listed here, so the balance between remote, hybrid, and on-site options is real. Decide what you can actually commit to before you search, then filter by location and work type so you're not sorting through roles you can't take.
Test Engineering Specialist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a test engineering specialist internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For test engineering specialist candidates, the concrete artifact recruiters want to see is a documented testing portfolio, whether that's a GitHub repository with test scripts, a write-up of a hardware validation project, or a lab notebook. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a test engineering specialist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For test engineering specialist interns, what actually drives it is consistent performance on real test design and debugging work, available headcount on the team, and whether the team's return-offer window aligns with your graduation date. Position yourself for one by treating every assignment seriously, without counting on it.
When should I apply for test engineering specialist internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers, particularly in aerospace, semiconductor, and automotive sectors, recruit summer cohorts the preceding fall, often with application deadlines in October or November. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly through the fall puts you ahead of the majority of applicants.
Are test engineering specialist internships paid?
Most professional test engineering specialist internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and some listings show hourly rates or stipend details where the employer discloses them. Unpaid internships exist primarily at nonprofits or through certain academic credit arrangements, so read each listing carefully.
What should a test engineering specialist internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that show test planning, debugging, or hardware validation, naming the tools used and linking to the work where possible, such as a GitHub repository with automated test scripts or a lab report. Add relevant coursework in circuits, signals, or software testing, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote test engineering specialist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 45% of the test engineering specialist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a rotational test engineering internship?
Some large manufacturers and defense contractors run structured rotational intern programs that place test engineering interns across multiple teams or product lines over a single summer. These programs are designed for people new to the field, offer broader exposure than a single-team placement, and recruit early in the fall. They are competitive and fill in the first application wave, so identify them and apply as soon as they open.
Can international students get test engineering specialist internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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