Photonics Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is one of the country's leading states for photonics engineering, anchored by a dense cluster of defense, semiconductor, and optical systems employers across Greater Boston, the Route 128 corridor, and the Merrimack Valley. Companies like II-VI Incorporated, Coherent, Lumentum, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and Raytheon Technologies regularly hire photonics engineers and have established visa sponsorship programs for international candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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.
Our growing team is looking for an Integrated Photonics Design Engineer. We have several open positions with different seniority levels and focus, including passive optical component design, active component and modulator design, and product design.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As part of your responsibilities, you will:
- Collaborate with product teams and customers to define requirements for device components.
- Own the end-to-end design and delivery of high-performance, robust device components such as fiber couplers, optical taps, optical crossings, thermo-optic phase shifters, photodiodes, and high speed electro-optic modulators.
- Simulate component designs using FEA tools like Lumerical, Tidy3D, HFSS, CST, and COMSOL.
- Develop and perform rigorous measurement techniques to assess component performance.
- Analyze measurement and simulation data for performance and robustness.
- Collaborate to improve our fabrication processes for optimal device performance.
- Serve as a technical expert within HyperLight to guide our engineering decisions and technical roadmap.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Either 5+ years of relevant work experience or equivalent experience through an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
- Strong expertise with passive and/or active photonic device component design, including hands-on development of multiple successful designs.
- Strong expertise in finite element analysis of PIC components using tools like Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL, Synopsys OptoDesigner, etc.
- Extensive hands-on experience performing measurements to characterize photonic integrated circuits using instruments like swept lasers, fiber alignment stages, VNAs, BERTs, oscilloscopes, etc.
- Extensive experience with data analysis and statistical methods such as design of experiments using tools like JMP or Python.
- Demonstrated record of innovation and achievement, e.g. product designs, publications, or patents.
- Familiarity with the entire photonic integrated circuit engineering process, including simulation, layout, fabrication, test, and device operation.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills.
Comfortable working with cross-disciplinary teams.
BENEFITS
- Competitive market-based compensation (Salary range $120,000 - $225,000)
- Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, vision, and dental plans for individuals and families
- 401(k) retirement plans with employee matching
- Paid Parental Leave
- Life and disability insurance
- Commuter benefits and subsidies
- Professional growth and mentorship opportunities
LOCATION
This role is in-person at HyperLight's office in Cambridge, MA. Authorization to work in the US is required.
HyperLight is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. HyperLight is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during our hiring process. If you need assistance or an accommodation, please contact us at HR@hyperlightcorp.com.
INTRODUCTION
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.
Our growing team is looking for an Integrated Photonics Design Engineer. We have several open positions with different seniority levels and focus, including passive optical component design, active component and modulator design, and product design.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As part of your responsibilities, you will:
- Collaborate with product teams and customers to define requirements for device components.
- Own the end-to-end design and delivery of high-performance, robust device components such as fiber couplers, optical taps, optical crossings, thermo-optic phase shifters, photodiodes, and high speed electro-optic modulators.
- Simulate component designs using FEA tools like Lumerical, Tidy3D, HFSS, CST, and COMSOL.
- Develop and perform rigorous measurement techniques to assess component performance.
- Analyze measurement and simulation data for performance and robustness.
- Collaborate to improve our fabrication processes for optimal device performance.
- Serve as a technical expert within HyperLight to guide our engineering decisions and technical roadmap.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Either 5+ years of relevant work experience or equivalent experience through an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
- Strong expertise with passive and/or active photonic device component design, including hands-on development of multiple successful designs.
- Strong expertise in finite element analysis of PIC components using tools like Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL, Synopsys OptoDesigner, etc.
- Extensive hands-on experience performing measurements to characterize photonic integrated circuits using instruments like swept lasers, fiber alignment stages, VNAs, BERTs, oscilloscopes, etc.
- Extensive experience with data analysis and statistical methods such as design of experiments using tools like JMP or Python.
- Demonstrated record of innovation and achievement, e.g. product designs, publications, or patents.
- Familiarity with the entire photonic integrated circuit engineering process, including simulation, layout, fabrication, test, and device operation.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills.
Comfortable working with cross-disciplinary teams.
BENEFITS
- Competitive market-based compensation (Salary range $120,000 - $225,000)
- Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, vision, and dental plans for individuals and families
- 401(k) retirement plans with employee matching
- Paid Parental Leave
- Life and disability insurance
- Commuter benefits and subsidies
- Professional growth and mentorship opportunities
LOCATION
This role is in-person at HyperLight's office in Cambridge, MA. Authorization to work in the US is required.
HyperLight is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. HyperLight is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during our hiring process. If you need assistance or an accommodation, please contact us at HR@hyperlightcorp.com.
Photonics Engineer Job Roles in Massachusetts
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Search Photonics Engineer Jobs in MassachusettsPhotonics Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for photonics engineers in Massachusetts?
Several Massachusetts employers have a documented history of sponsoring work visas for photonics engineers. These include defense and aerospace contractors such as Raytheon Technologies and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, photonics and optical components firms like II-VI Incorporated, Coherent, and Lumentum, and semiconductor equipment companies concentrated along the Route 128 and I-495 corridors. University-affiliated research labs at MIT and Harvard also sponsor researchers in photonics-adjacent roles.
Which visa types are most common for photonics engineer roles in Massachusetts?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa category for photonics engineers in Massachusetts, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in optics, photonics, electrical engineering, or physics. Employers with active government contracts sometimes sponsor O-1 visas for candidates with demonstrated research distinction. Some roles at defense contractors may require additional security clearance eligibility, which can affect sponsorship feasibility for certain nationalities.
Which cities in Massachusetts have the most photonics engineer sponsorship jobs?
Greater Boston and Cambridge host the highest concentration of photonics engineering roles, driven by proximity to MIT, Harvard, and major defense contractors. Burlington, Billerica, Andover, and Woburn along the Route 128 and I-495 corridors are significant hubs for optical components and laser systems companies. Lowell and the Merrimack Valley also have manufacturing and R&D facilities where photonics engineers are regularly recruited with visa sponsorship.
How to find photonics engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Massachusetts?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates looking for visa-sponsored photonics engineer roles in Massachusetts. You can filter directly by role and state to see employers with active sponsorship history in the photonics sector, covering companies across Greater Boston, the Route 128 corridor, and research institutions. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from employers who have previously filed H-1B petitions for photonics and optical engineering positions, saving significant research time.
What should international photonics engineers know about prevailing wages and hiring in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts generally falls in the higher wage tiers for photonics engineering roles, reflecting the cost of living in Greater Boston and demand from defense and semiconductor employers. Sponsoring employers must certify through a Labor Condition Application that they will pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for the specific role and location, which you can research independently using the OFLC Wage Search tool. Candidates with advanced degrees in optical physics or photonic systems, or with backgrounds in compound semiconductors and fiber optics, tend to find the strongest sponsorship opportunities in the state.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored photonics engineer jobs in Massachusetts?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.