Product Development Intern at Picarro

Santa Clara, CA

Hourly Rate: $25/hr

Duration: 8 to 10 weeks

The Opportunity

We are seeking a motivated and curious intern to support the development of our next-generation spectroscopy platform and gas measurement products.

Picarro’s products deliver real-time measurements of critical gases at parts-per-billion and parts-per-trillion levels. As a Product Development Intern, you will work alongside a world-class team of engineers developing systems based on Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy (CRDS) and broadband lasers. This internship offers hands-on experience with advanced instrumentation and an opportunity to contribute to real engineering projects while learning from experienced mentors. The position reports to the Director of Opto-Mechanical Engineering.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on student who is excited to learn, enjoys solving problems, and is eager to explore how complex systems are designed and built. They are curious, adaptable, and comfortable working in a collaborative environment where they can contribute while building new skills. This individual will support the team with assembling systems, running experiments, documenting processes, and helping troubleshoot issues. The right person has a strong interest in optics, mechanics, electronics, software, or spectroscopy and is looking for an internship that provides meaningful technical experience and mentorship.

Key Responsibilities

Support the development of electro-optomechanical systems for Picarro’s next-generation CRDS products. Assist with first-time assembly of prototypes, documentation of assembly processes, pilot build activities, test setup preparation, and basic tooling or fixture development under the guidance of experienced engineers. Help identify issues during build and test activities and work with the engineering team to implement improvements.

Technical Expertise:

• Hands-On Engineering Support: Assist with the assembly, test, and evaluation of high-precision optomechanical systems.
• Optical Component Exposure: Learn about near-infrared optical components such as lasers, detectors, isolators, and coated optics.
• Technical Learning: Gain experience with micro-bench optics, alignment processes, and precision mechanical assembly.
• Process Documentation: Help document assembly methods, test procedures, and observations to support engineering development.
• Testing and Analysis: Support reliability testing, data collection, and basic analysis under guidance from the engineering team.
• Tooling and Fixtures: Assist with simple tooling, fixture setup, and lab organization to enable efficient development work.
• Continuous Learning: Build knowledge of spectroscopy instruments, product development, and engineering best practices throughout the internship.
• Attention to Detail: Demonstrate care in documentation, lab work, and following established processes and safety practices.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a BS or MS in Physics, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Strong interest in hands-on engineering, lab work, and product development.
• Exposure through coursework, projects, or internships to optics, mechanics, electronics, software, or instrumentation.
• Willingness to learn engineering tools, laboratory methods, and documentation practices.
• Good communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, ask questions, and take initiative on assigned tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on project, laboratory, or research experience in an engineering or physical sciences setting.

About Picarro

Picarro, Inc. is empowering the world with timely, trusted, and actionable data for environmental monitoring. Our innovative technologies are at the forefront of detecting and managing emissions, ensuring safe and sustainable operations, helping industries comply with regulatory standards and improve air quality. Our trace gas and stable isotope analysis solutions are based on patented cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology, and offer unparalleled precision, ease of use, and reliability. Picarro solutions are used in a wide variety of scientific and industrial applications including atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, gas leak detection, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. The company's products are designed and manufactured at its headquarters in Santa Clara, California and exported to countries worldwide.

Honors awarded to the Company include the World Economic Forum Technology Innovation Pioneer, IHS CERA Energy Innovation Pioneer, the U.S. Department of Energy Small Business of the Year, the TiE50 Winner and the Red Herring Global 100 Winner.  

Key investors include Benchmark Capital Partners, Greylock Management Corporation, Duff, Ackerman & Goodrich, Stanford University, Focus Ventures, Mingxin China Growth Ltd., NTT Finance and Weston Presidio Capital. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, nor on the basis of disability. Posted positions are not open to third party recruiters/agencies and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.