Optical Systems Engineering Intern

To reinvent an industry, you have to build the best team. Join Formlabs if you want to bring groundbreaking professional 3D printers to the desktop of every designer, engineer, researcher, and artist in the world.

The Optical Systems Engineering Intern will support the optics team in developing, optimizing, and validating optical systems architectures to create new 3D printing paradigms. 

Internship Term: Summer 2026
Commitment: Full-time
Location: Onsite in Somerville, MA

The Job:

• Provide support during optical system architecture development, component and system testing, validation, and integration.
• Design and build experimental test setups, including automation of data acquisition.
• Conduct hands-on experiments on 3D printers and in the optics lab to collect and analyze data.
• Document and present results to the greater engineering team, and make recommendations for next-steps in system design.

You:

• Have a fundamental understanding of optics.
• Have hands-on experience working with lasers, LEDs, illumination sources, optical sensors, cameras, actuators, electromechanical systems, and/or other optical systems.
• Have experience in building and testing optical, mechanical, or electrical setups.  
• Have programming and scientific computing experience, ideally in Python.
• Are excited about tackling open-ended problems across engineering disciplines.
• Have effective communications skills, including technical writing.
• Can autonomously research, report results, and make recommendations for next steps.
• Are familiar with CAD software. 
• Familiarity with optical design software is a plus.

Intern Benefits & Perks:

• Flexible Out of Office Plan – take time when you need it
• Ample on-site parking & pre-tax commuter benefits
• Catered on-site lunches (3x per week), snacks, beverages, & treats
• Cohort-based social and professional development experience for interns
• Many opt-in culture events across our diverse community
• And of course… unlimited 3D prints

Internships at Formlabs give students the opportunity to create, build, solve, and discover in every area of our business. Come build your career and build the future of 3D printing. Internship perks include social events, networking opportunities, access to our fully-stocked kitchens and onsite lunches, and unlimited 3D printing!

Compensation: 

Interns at Formlabs are paid on a bi-weekly pay schedule. The pay range for this role is between $2,900 and $3,300 per bi-weekly pay period, and your pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, location and expected impact on the organization. This is a salaried role, so you will always be paid based on the assumed 40 hours per week as a full-time intern. This position does not offer housing or relocation assistance.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.  

Even if you don't check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply.  Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of 3D printing.