Photonics Lab Operator (Emeryville)
About the role
This role is responsible for running wafer-level tests and operating metrology systems in precision optical, photonics, or MEMS environments. The work supports testing and characterization of MEMS-based silicon photonics optical circuit switches (OCS).
What you'll do
- Operate and support wafer-level test setups for silicon photonics and MEMS-based devices.
- Load wafers, execute test sequences, and perform optical alignment and fiber-based test setups.
- Operate high-precision optical and metrology equipment to collect measurement data, monitoring outputs for anomalies or drift.
- Troubleshoot test setups, maintain and calibrate lab equipment, and support root cause analysis of failures.
- Document test procedures, results, and observations while supporting engineers in debugging, validation, and test optimization.
What you'll need
- Associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience).
- Strong hands-on experience with single mode fiber optics.
- Experience working in precision optical, photonics, or MEMS environments.
- Experience operating high-end metrology or measurement equipment and wafer-level testing in semiconductor environments.
- Familiarity with lab instrumentation such as optical setups, oscilloscopes, and power meters.
- Ability to work in cleanroom or controlled lab environments.
Nice to have
- Experience with silicon photonics or optical device testing.
- Experience working with laser systems, optical alignment, or fiber coupling.
- Familiarity with wafer probing, optical characterization, or MEMS devices.
- Experience supporting R&D or early-stage product development environments.
Skills: wafer-level test, optical alignment, single mode fiber, silicon photonics, metrology
More semiconductor jobs: Test engineer jobs · California jobs
This role has been open 0 days — well below the 124-day median for Silicon Test Engineering roles.
Silicon Test Engineering · Silicon Validation
|
Open roles in category
165
|
Median days open
124 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$136k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | nEye | All employers we track in this specialty (165 roles · 53 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 2 | 165 |
| Open roles in the wider Silicon Validation & Test family | 4 | 2368 · 121 employers |
| Median days open | 0 d | 124 d (−124 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $136k |
Skills observed across this category: wafer-level test, optical alignment, single mode fiber, silicon photonics, metrology
Who's hiring in this category
- Renesas Electronics · 11 open roles · median 116 d
- Infineon Technologies · 10 open roles · median 118 d
- Qualcomm · 10 open roles · median 115 d
- Teradyne · 10 open roles · median 138 d
- Marvell Technology · 9 open roles · median 131 d
- onsemi · 7 open roles · median 123 d
How we counted: 165 open Silicon Test Engineering (Silicon Validation) roles from 53 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 3 Nov 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Silicon Validation & Test family row. Figures refresh nightly.