Design & Optical Test Engineer

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL Laboratories advances critical structural and functional materials and semiconductor devices that enable precision navigation, quantum technologies and extreme-environment performance. With expertise from design through deployment, we deliver scalable, high-performance solutions that transform our customers’ missions. Our work leverages digital manufacturing and scalable microfabrication techniques to meet tomorrow’s toughest challenges.

Position Summary:

•    Design, build, test, and analyze optical, optoelectronic, and photonic experiments for quantum communications systems and platforms 
•    Collaborate with multidisciplinary R&D teams to advance quantum communications technologies

Key Responsibilities:

•    Perform critical engineering and R&D under the supervision of staff scientists for next generation quantum photonic/electronic devices and deployable optical payloads 
•    Design, model, setup, and test of free-space and/fiber optic experiments and design and fabrication of state-of-the-art semiconductor devices 
•    Improve processes, perform measurements, collect, summarize, and analyze data, present and discuss data with other scientists
•    Work with mechanical and electrical teams to troubleshoot complex systems

Required Qualifications:

•    Bachelor’s or master’s in physics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related discipline
•    Some prior experience working with any of microfabrication, free-space/fiber optics, electronics, computer-controlled experiments obtain through coursework, independent study, or other internships 
•    Strong desire to learn and be trained in scientific laboratory techniques and experimental procedures 
•    Must be able to work well in a dynamic team environment and possess excellent communication skills
•    Working knowledge of free space optics, fiber optics, mechanical CAD software, and rf-test equipment (spectrum analyzers, power meters, oscilloscopes)