Optical Engineering Intern - Optical Engineer (Summer 2027) - Group 78

Position Requirements

• Completed Junior year or higher in Optical Sciences or Optical Engineering degree track
• A broad optical engineering education, with course work in geometrical and physical optics, with a familiarity of optical component fabrication, system alignment and testing.
• Demonstrated experience working in multi-disciplinary teams, excellent communication skills, and the ability to produce and present professional written and oral reports.
• All employees (including interns and co-ops) at Lincoln Laboratory are required to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.

Desired Skills

• Zemax or CodeV optical design software
• Stray light modeling, FRED software
• Matlab
• Experience assembling, aligning, and testing refractive or reflective optical components and systems
• Designing and tolerancing optical systems for fabrication

Summer Research Program Overview

The Summer Research Program offers students the chance to apply their academic knowledge to real-world national security challenges while working alongside leading scientists and engineers. As an SRP intern, you’ll engage in hands-on research, receive dedicated mentorship, and take part in professional development opportunities including workshops, tech talks, and networking events—all while building connections within a vibrant community of peers.

• Internships are typically 10–12 weeks, with flexible start and end dates, typically May through early August.
• Housing support is available for eligible non-local interns, including access to discounted university housing in Boston and a one-time taxable relocation payment.
• Complimentary daily shuttle transportation is provided from Boston-based housing to and from the Lab.

Compensation:

Hourly pay rates below are effective January 2026 – December 2026 and will be reviewed again for Summer 2027. Rates are based on the highest academic year or degree completed before the internship start date.

• Freshman year completed: $25.00/hour
• Sophomore year completed: $27.00/hour
• Junior year completed: $29.00/hour
• 4th year of 5 year program completed, no degree conferred: $32.00/hour
• Bachelors completed: $34.50/hour
• Bachelors + 1, one year of graduate study completed: $36.50/hour
• Bachelors + 2, two years of graduate study completed: $38.00/hour
• MS completed: $39.00/hour
• MS + 1, one year of graduate study completed after the MS: $41.00/hour
• MS + 2, two years of graduate study completed after the MS: $42.50/hour
• MS + 3, three years of graduate study completed after the MS: $43.50/hour