Quantum Optics Intern

Join Us for an Unforgettable Summer Internship Experience!

Looking to grow your skills, build your network, and have a little fun along the way? Our Summer Internship Program offers the perfect mix of hands-on experience and community-building activities designed to support both your personal and professional development.

Over the course of the summer, you’ll dive into meaningful work that will expand your knowledge and challenge you to think creatively. But it’s not all work—we believe in balance.

You’ll also get the chance to:

Connect with fellow interns and early-career professionals through engaging networking events

Unwind with movie nights, beach days, and celebrate National Intern Day

Explore our cutting-edge science during two half days of guided laboratory tours, where you’ll visit 8 of our top research facilities and see innovation in action

Whether you’re looking to kick-start your career or simply learn more about the exciting work we do, this is more than just an internship—it’s your first step into a vibrant, supportive, and forward-thinking community.

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HRL Laboratories 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 jointly by Boeing and GM, 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.

Essential Duties:

• Perform cutting edge R&D under the supervision of staff scientists for next generation quantum photonic/electronic devices.
• Design, model, setup, and test of free-space and/fiber optic experiments.
• Perform measurements, collect and summarize data, present and discuss data with other scientists.
• Must be able to work well in a dynamic team environment and possess excellent communication skills.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing an MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related discipline.
• Prior experience working with any 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.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and organization skills are required.
• Must be proficient in use of computers, engineering workstations, and complex electronic equipment.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Coursework or equivalent experience in optics, lasers, quantum mechanics and similar. Programming in MATLAB or Python highly desired.
• Working knowledge of free space optics, fiber optics, and rf-test equipment (spectrum analyzers, power meters, oscilloscopes) is desired.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to work safely in an optical testing laboratory.

Special Requirements:

• US Person Status Required
• Must been enrolled in an educational program following the end of your intern assignment

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay Range: $43 - $48 an hour

• The pay will be determined on your educational year. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hires for the position. Your recruiter can share more about the specific range during the hiring process.

• Benefits: 80 hours of Sick time

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Assignment Length:

• HRL Summer internship assignments typically span 8 to 12 weeks, with three available cohort start dates: May 26, June 1 and June 15.

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Stipend:

• For students who will be relocating and renting in the Malibu, CA area for the summer we offer a 1 time stipend to help with moving costs. Specific information on pay out and requirements to be discussed with your recruiter.

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Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy