Description
The Photonics Technician (Photonics Tech) builds, installs, tests, and maintains optical and fiber-optic systems, including lasers, lenses, and mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, and related test equipment.
- • Monitor inventory and order supplies.
- • Maintain cleanroom environments per standards.
- • Execute tests and failure analysis of optomechanical and optoelectronic products per test plans.
- • Assist engineers and scientists with photonics experiments.
- • Perform diagnostic analyses using microscopy, profilometry, ellipsometry, and other metrology tools.
- • Handle processing chemicals and gases per safety procedures.
- • Design, build, or modify assembly fixtures.
- • Lay out machining cut lines using drafting or CAD tools.
- • Support development of new products, fixtures, tools, and processes.
- • Assemble and adjust prototype electro-optical units for testing.
- • Splice optical fibers using fusion or mechanical methods.
- • Terminate, cure, polish, and test fiber cables and connectors.
- • Set up and operate prototype and test apparatus, including control consoles, collimators, and recording equipment.
- • Set up and operate assembly and processing equipment, including lasers, cameras, die bonders, wire bonders, dispensers, reflow ovens, soldering irons, die shears, wire pull testers, temperature and humidity chambers, and optical spectrum analyzers.
- • Repair and calibrate photonic products, such as surgical lasers.
- • Fabricate optoelectronic and semiconductor photonic devices.
- • Build prototype optomechanical devices for imaging and targeting systems.
- • Assemble fiber-optic, optoelectronic, and free-space optical components and assemblies.
- • Maintain and calibrate lab equipment, including lasers, microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, and energy measurement devices.
- • Assemble optical communication components, including photonic switches, optical backplanes, and optoelectronic interfaces.
- • Record and analyze photonic test data.
- • Document procedures and calibrations for optical and fiber-optic equipment.
- • Recommend design or material changes to reduce cost and processing time.
- • Optimize photonic process parameters through prototype and production builds.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
