Photonics Research Intern

Q Space Labs is a deep-tech startup building the next generation of space-based quantum communication infrastructure. We are developing unhackable data links using laser-based optical communication.

We are looking for a technically sharp, hands-on photonics intern to join us as a founding researcher. This is not a passive learning role. You will work directly on the hardware — in the clean room, at the bench, and in simulation — contributing to real prototype development from day one. The primary objective is to accelerate our optical system builds so the founding team can push TRL milestones faster without bottlenecks in design, simulation, or component iteration.

• Optical Simulation — run and iterate on photonic and electromagnetic simulations using Ansys Lumerical and Zemax. Translate simulation outputs into actionable design decisions for the hardware team.
• Component Design & Fabrication — work with CAD software and 3D-print optical mounts, enclosures, and mechanical fixtures on the fly as hardware requirements evolve.
• ICD Documentation — read and interpret technical requirements documents and convert them into Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for sharing with external suppliers and partners.
• Clean Room Work — execute hands-on optical assembly, alignment, and testing in a controlled clean room environment. Long hours and strict lab discipline are part of the job.
• Embedded Electronics Collaboration — work alongside the embedded electronics team to integrate photonic subsystems, understanding signal flow, modulation schemes, and hardware interfaces.
• Research & Literature Review — stay current on relevant literature in free-space optics, quantum photonics, and optical communications, and bring insights back to the team in a usable format.

• You have a background in optics, photonics, RF communications, physics, electronics, or computer science — or some combination of these. A perfect pedigree matters less than genuine hardware curiosity.
• You are comfortable being uncomfortable. Early-stage hardware development is iterative, ambiguous, and physically demanding. You treat that as the job, not an obstacle to it.
• You can read a dense technical document and extract what matters without being walked through it.
• You have working knowledge of data modulation and encoding, and a solid grounding in electromagnetics.
• You know Ansys Lumerical and Zemax, or you are prepared to learn them fast and without hand-holding.

• Founding Researcher status — you are not an intern in the conventional sense. You join as a founding researcher with direct attribution to the hardware and systems you build, including any research publications or patents that result.
• Real hardware, real stakes — you work on prototype optical systems being developed for government, defense, and commercial space operators. The work has operational consequences, not just academic ones.
• Deep-tech immersion — get inside exposure to quantum communication hardware, free-space optical system architecture, and the full product development cycle from simulation to bench to field.
• World-class lab environment — work in a well-equipped facility under India's first deep-tech state policy, with access to advisors drawn from leading aerospace and quantum research institutions.
• Direct mentorship — work directly with the founding team, not a middle manager. Your questions go to the people building the system, and your contributions are visible immediately.
• Founder track — exceptional performance opens a clear path to a full-time founding engineer role, with ESOP eligibility, as the company moves into pre-seed and beyond.