Intern – Optical Instrumentation & Assembly

Intern – Optical Instrumentation & Assembly (with Focus on Documentation, CAD, and prototype assembly)
Location: Gardena, CA 90248
Type: Internship (Full-time/Part-time, Typical 3 ~ 6 month with potential return offer)
Eligibility: U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents only

Position Overview
We are looking for a hands-on, detail-oriented Intern to support the development of optical instrumentation systems for physical sensing and measurement. This role is ideal for a student or recent graduate eager to gain real-world experience with small-scale instrument assembly, CAD design, PCB layout, and technical documentation in a collaborative research and development environment.

The internship centers on supporting the design, assembly, and testing of precision laser-based sensing systems, while developing skills in both hardware and documentation best practices.

Key Responsibilities
Under the mentorship of experienced engineers, you will:

• Assist in the mechanical design of components and fixtures using CAD software (e.g., Fusion 360)
• Contribute to PCB design and layout for small optical/electronic subsystems (e.g., using KiCad or Fusion 360)
• Help assemble and test optical and electronic instrumentation, including laser probes, spectrometers, and fiber-coupled devices
• Participate in the setup and alignment of small-scale optical systems in the lab
• Maintain structured, high-quality documentation of designs, experiments, and procedures (including schematics, CAD files, build guides, and test results)
• Generate clear visual documentation, such as annotated diagrams, parts lists, and images of assembled systems
• Support data collection, organization, and reporting with clear figures, plots, and tables
• Contribute to regular team meetings, sharing progress and updates on assigned tasks

Desired Qualifications

• Pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a related field
• Some experience with CAD software for mechanical design (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Onshape)
• Exposure to or coursework in PCB layout and design (e.g., KiCad, Eagle(now Fusion), Altium)
• Comfortable with hands-on prototyping, soldering, and assembling small devices
• Familiarity with basic lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies) and safety practices
• Strong attention to detail and documentation — enjoys organizing files, recording procedures, and writing up results
• Interest in optical systems, scientific instrumentation, and interdisciplinary R&D
• Basic coding or data analysis skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB) are a plus

Bonus Skills (Not Required, but Helpful)

• Familiarity with optical component alignment, laser safety, or fiber optics
• Experience generating build documentation, BOMs (bills of materials), and version-controlled design files
• Exposure to signal processing, instrumentation control, or embedded systems
• Understanding of electronics fundamentals (circuit design, analog/digital signals)

What You’ll Gain

• Practical experience in instrument development, from design to assembly and documentation for exciting NASA and DOE funded projects
• Exposure to multidisciplinary R&D in optics, electronics, and mechanics
• Development of professional-grade CAD and PCB design skills
• Mentorship from senior engineers and researchers
• A strong portfolio of technical documentation and designs to showcase in future roles
• Experience contributing to real projects with potential field deployment

If you enjoy building things, documenting how they work, and contributing to precision science and engineering tools, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation

Salary range: $18/hour to $30/hour depending on qualifications and experience

Contact

To apply, please e-mail your resumé to:

recruitment AT intopsys.com

Equal Opportunity Employer

IOS is an equal opportunity & affirmative action employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. IOS makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.