Test Technician; Emeryville

About Us

nEye.ai, a well-funded optical switch startup, is poised to revolutionize the future of data centers. nEye’s MEMS-based silicon photonics optical circuit switches (OCS) eliminate critical bottlenecks in AI processing by enabling direct optical connections among thousands of GPUs and memory units. The company's OCS is an ultra-low power consumption, high radix, compact chip-scale design, offering hyperscale data centers enhanced performance, efficiency, and scalability.

You will play a key role in maintaining efficient lab operations and enabling rapid feedback loops between internal teams and external fabrication partners. This role is critical to keeping the lab running efficiently and ensuring engineers have reliable, high-quality data to make decisions. Your work will directly support device development, testing throughput, and iteration speed. You enjoy building systems, not just using them, and will be comfortable working across lab experimentation, software, and data analysis.

We are looking for someone who can think in terms of systems, trade-offs, and measurement accuracy and who will want to own a critical technical function from the ground up.

• Execute repeatable test procedures for photonics devices and components (optical, electrical, and wafer-level)
• Operate lab equipment such as probe stations, optical alignment setups, and laser test systems
• Follow detailed instructions and test plans provided by engineers
• Record, organize, and upload test data accurately and consistently
• Perform basic equipment setup, calibration, and routine maintenance
• Monitor test runs and flag anomalies or issues to engineering teams
• Support failure analysis workflows by collecting samples and running standard characterization steps
• Assist with lab organization, equipment upkeep, and inventory tracking
• Work with internal teams to ensure timely execution of test schedules and priorities
• Support interactions with external foundries/partners by helping process incoming/outgoing samples and data

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience)
• 1-5 years of experience in a lab, manufacturing, or hardware testing environment
• Strong experience with single mode fiber optics
• Comfortable working with hands-on lab equipment and following structured procedures
• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce consistent, high-quality data
• Experience with electro-mechanical systems, optics, or semiconductor devices is a plus
• Ability to troubleshoot basic issues and elevate appropriately
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage repetitive tasks with precision
• Team-oriented with clear communication skills
• Familiarity using AI tools (e.g., LLMs, copilots) to accelerate engineering workflows, debugging, and problem-solving

• Experience in semiconductor, photonics, or cleanroom environments
• Familiarity with wafer probing, optical testing, or laser characterization tools
• Exposure to test documentation systems or data logging tools
• Basic scripting or data handling experience (Python, Excel, LabVIEW, etc.)

nEye.ai is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Starting salary and title will depend on, and be commensurate with, relevant experience, skills, training, education, market demands, and the ultimate job duties and requirements.