R&D lab technician

We are seeking hands-on Optical Lab Operations & Test Support Technician to manage the daily operation of our optical systems test laboratory in San Jose. This individual will be responsible for general lab organization for our team, equipment management, test setup and modification, documentation, calibration and repair of equipment, IT support coordination, and continuous improvement of our lab space and processes. Over time, this role can grow into a test technician position with responsibility for executing optical and electrical characterization of next-generation optical networking products.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Associate's degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience

Hands-on experience working in a lab environment

Strong organizational and project coordination skills

Familiarity with lab equipment, instrumentation, and inventory management

Basic networking and IT troubleshooting skills

Experience managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in optical communications, photonics, telecommunications environments

Familiarity with optical fiber handling and test equipment

Experience with both Windows and Linux systems

Basic scripting and test automation experience, e.g. Python

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Manage day to day lab operations and organization

Build, modify, and maintain optical and electrical test setups

Coordinate lab space allocation and test resource scheduling

Support engineering team with setup integration, troubleshooting, and configuration changes

Coordinate calibration schedules and repair for lab equipment

Coordinate firewall requests, network access, IP address allocation, and lab computer deployments/upgrades

Track lab assets and equipment utilization

Generate purchase requests for laboratory equipment and supplies

Maintaining a clean, safe, and efficient lab environment

Organizing lab equipment and consumables

Develop and maintain equipment inventories, asset tracking systems, and storage organization

Create and maintain lab documentation

Coordinate receipt, installation, and deployment of new equipment

Manage consumables inventory and reorder processes

Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency and utilization

Develop standardized setup practices and documentation

Implement processes that reduce setup time and improve test repeatability

Support lab expansion and infrastructure upgrade projects