Test Engineering Technician Internships
Test engineering technician internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience testing real hardware and systems, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across 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 Technician 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 Technician Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Skyworks Solutions14
- Tesla8
- Rocket Lab USA4
- Vertiv3
- Blue Origin3
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your Test Engineering Technician Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large employers in aerospace, defense, and electronics recruit summer test engineering technician interns the preceding fall, often closing applications months before the cohort starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Checking listings in late summer and early fall puts you ahead of candidates who wait until winter.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for test engineering technician interns expect limited work history and assess candidates on documented evidence instead. Compile two or three projects that show what you tested, the instruments or software you used, and the outcome you measured. Lab reports, bench-test write-ups, or a linked GitHub repository give recruiters something concrete to evaluate.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside your campus activity widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never appear at a fair.
Practice your technical screen out loud before interviews
Test engineering technician intern screens typically involve hands-on or scenario-based questions about measurement tools, test procedures, and troubleshooting circuits or systems. Practice explaining your reasoning step by step, not just arriving at an answer, because interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as the conclusion you reach.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Larger manufacturers and defense contractors run cohort-based internship programs designed to train people new to test engineering, rotating interns across different test cells or product lines. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and often convert at higher rates. Identify the ones that fit your location and discipline and apply in the first wave they open.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 55% of the test engineering technician internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before sorting through listings, then filter by location and work type so you're only reviewing roles you can actually take. Filtering first saves time and keeps you focused on the openings worth pursuing.
Test Engineering Technician Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a test engineering technician internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. Build a portfolio that documents what you tested, the tools you used, and the results you measured, giving recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a test engineering technician internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for test engineering technician interns is consistent performance on real test assignments, positive team relationships, and open headcount when the internship ends. Position for a return offer by delivering reliable work and communicating results clearly, without counting on the outcome before it's offered.
When should I apply for test engineering technician internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers, particularly in aerospace, defense, and semiconductor manufacturing, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, with applications closing months before the start date. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you won't miss the early-opening cohorts.
Are test engineering technician internships paid?
Most professional test engineering technician internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid arrangements are uncommon at established employers but do appear occasionally at small firms or through certain academic co-op structures.
What should a test engineering technician internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Highlight two or three documented projects that show what you tested, the instruments or software you used, and what you found, with links to lab reports, GitHub repositories, or design portfolios where the work is visible. Add relevant coursework in circuits, instrumentation, or quality systems, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote test engineering technician internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 45% of the test engineering technician internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get test engineering technician 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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