Optical PLL Research Intern
- Location
- Sunnyvale, CA (Remote)
- Listed
- 30 days ago
About the Role
As an Optical PLL Research Intern, you will lay the groundwork for an integrated optical phase-locked loop (OPLL) that locks an external laser for coherent reception in next-generation wireless optical links. This is a long-term project spanning lab and simulation, ideally a year or more. It could also anchor a thesis or a longer-term collaboration.
What such a loop can achieve is bounded by real components. You will evaluate lasers, modulators, and analog electronics, build benchtop experiments around them, and work toward a stable closed loop. In parallel, you will extend our simulation and use the two to check each other.
There is genuine room to shape the direction. Survey what is available, design your own experiments, and follow the evidence to the strongest design.
How you will make 10X Impact
- Component Evaluation: Screen commercial lasers, modulators, and photodetectors. Measure what vendors do not publish.
- Loop Design: Design the loops that track carrier phase and frequency, and validate them against control theory.
- Chip Requirements: Define what the integrated OPLL needs from its laser, electronics, and loop.
- Physical-Layer Simulation: Extend our model of the link and reconcile it with measurement.
What you should have
- Currently pursuing a Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Optics, Communications, or a related field.
- A strong background in analog and RF electronics and circuit design, including noise, bandwidth, and delay analysis.
- Hands-on lab experience with lasers, modulators, photodetectors, and high-speed test equipment.
- Control theory applied on hardware: closing feedback loops and diagnosing oscillation, drift, or loss of lock.
- Working knowledge of digital communications and signal processing.
- Availability of at least 6 months, ideally 12 or more, and three days per week in the Sunnyvale office.
It'd be great if you also had one or more of these
- Laser Locking: Frequency stabilization, tunable sources, phase-locked loops, carrier recovery, or coherent detection.
- Photodetection & Front-End Electronics: Photoreceiver, TIA, or high-speed circuit design.
- Numerical Methods: Scientific Python (NumPy, SciPy, JAX), phase-noise modeling, or cycle-slip statistics.
- Domain Knowledge: Optical or RF communications, photonics, or fading channels.
What we offer
- Competitive salary: $7,000-$10,000/month depending on degree.
- Flexible duration to fit your academic schedule.
- Direct mentorship from industry-leading engineers in a "moonshot" environment.
- Opportunity to work on technology that has the potential to change how billions of people access the internet.
About Taara
Born at X, Google's Moonshot Factory, Taara is on a mission to connect billions of people lacking abundant and affordable internet today by pioneering the way we use light to deliver faster, cheaper, more reliable connectivity. We are bringing groundbreaking wireless optical communication and photonics chip technologies to the world to bridge the digital divide.
Joining Taara allows you to work as part of a multidisciplinary team of experts in optics, software, and hardware, all collaborating to solve the hardest connectivity challenges on a global scale. If you want to tackle problems that matter and build tools with real-world impact, we would love to meet you.
From Taara's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
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Common questions
Where is the Optical PLL Research Intern job at Taara located?
Yes, this Optical PLL Research Intern opening at Taara is listed as Sunnyvale, CA (Remote). Always check Taara's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
How do I apply for the Optical PLL Research Intern position at Taara?
This listing links directly to Taara's Ashby application page. You can apply directly on Taara's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Ashby application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.