Our hiring process
At PhotonFirst we like to keep our hiring process transparent, fast and personal. From your first online introduction to a visit to our office in Alkmaar, you always know what the next step will be and who you will meet. On this page you will find the four steps or our process, so you can see exactly how we get to know each other and decide whether we are a match in our photonic sensing adventure.
1. A brief online introduction
After you apply via our online form, we take a short moment to get to know you on paper. We look at your background, your motivation and how your skills connect to our photonic sensing work. If there is a potential match, you receive a quick update from us and we schedule a brief online introduction to meet each other.
In this conversation you’ll talk with our HR/Recruitment contact, who will walk you through the role, your expectations and what it is like to work in our high-tech environment in Alkmaar. It is an open and informal moment to ask your first questions and to see if PhotonFirst and you are curious to move forward together.
2. First interview at the office in Alkmaar
If enthusiasm is mutual, we invite you to our headquarters at Pyrietstraat 2a in Alkmaar. During this first on‑site interview, you meet your future manager and sometimes a colleague from the team.
We dive deeper into your experience, your way of working and the challenges of the role, and we give you a look behind the scenes of our lab, cleanroom or office, depending on your position. You get a real impression of the atmosphere, the technology and the people you will be working with every day.
3. Second interview with colleagues
In the second interview you meet more of your potential colleagues, so you can experience the team dynamic and collaboration style. This conversation focuses on how you approach problems, how you like to work together and how your strengths complement the team.
For technical roles, we often discuss concrete examples from projects in integrated photonics sensing, so you understand the kind of systems and applications you will be contributing to. It is also an important moment for you to ask in‑depth questions about the roadmap, tools, and expectations in the first months.
4. Short case / Case presentation / trial day
As a final step, we may invite you to work on a short case or to join us for a trial day, depending on the role. This can be a small assignment, a technical case, or a practical challenge close to the work you will actually do at PhotonFirst.
You present your approach and outcomes to a few colleagues, which helps both you and us to see what collaboration could look like in real life. After this step, we share our feedback quickly; if it is a match, we discuss the offer and your onboarding so you can start turning light into valuable data with us in Alkmaar.