IIA Project Trainee Mechanical & Optics Recruitment 2026

Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) is hiring 2 Project Trainees — one for Mechanical work and one for Optics work — to support India's Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project in Bengaluru. If you have a BE/B.Tech or M.Sc in Mechanical, Production or Aerospace (Mechanical post) or in Optics, Photonics or Applied Physics (Optics post), you can attend the walk-in interview directly — there is no online application. The walk-in interview is on 21 August 2026 at IIA's Koramangala campus, Bengaluru. Salary is Rs. 40,000 per month for both posts.

Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Project Trainee Recruitment 2026 - 2 Posts

IIA (Advt. No. IIA/06/2026-27, dated 23 July 2026) is coordinating India's role in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), the next-generation astronomical observatory being built on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, through the India-TMT Coordination Centre (ITCC) hosted at IIA Bengaluru. India is responsible for manufacturing several critical hardware components and software for the telescope, in partnership with Indian industries. IIA is now hiring trainees to support this work on both the mechanical and optical sides. The TMT itself will be the world's most advanced ground-based observatory, with a segmented mirror made of 492 individual hexagonal segments (each 1.44 m in size) that together form a 30-metre reflective surface. The project is an international partnership between Caltech, the University of California, Canada, Japan, China, and India. Both posts carry a one-year contract, extendable annually based on performance and project needs, and the role may require frequent travel to partner industries for inspection and quality checks.

Vacancy Breakdown by Discipline

• Project Trainee (Mechanical): 1 post
• Project Trainee (Optics): 1 post

Who Can Apply?

For Project Trainee (Mechanical) - Rs. 40,000/month:

• Qualification: BE/B.Tech/M.Sc in Mechanical, Production, or Aerospace Engineering with 60% marks aggregate (or equivalent grade) from a recognized university.
• Desirable: Knowledge of manufacturing processes, engineering drawings and GD&T basics, design using CAD tools, inspection methods, and documentation.

For Project Trainee (Optics) - Rs. 40,000/month:

• Qualification: BE/B.Tech/M.Sc/ME/M.Tech in Optics, Photonics, or Applied Physics with 60% marks aggregate (or equivalent grade) from a recognized university.
• Desirable: Basic optical testing and alignment, familiarity with optical laboratory instruments, data recording and reporting, and basic programming in Python or Matlab.

Age Limit

• For Project Trainee (Mechanical): up to 27 years old as on the date of the walk-in interview (21 August 2026).
• For Project Trainee (Optics): up to 30 years old as on the date of the walk-in interview.
• Age Relaxation: SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates and persons with disabilities get relaxation as per Government of India norms.

Salary

• Both posts carry a fixed salary of Rs. 40,000 per month on a one-year contract basis.

Selection Process

The selection is based on:

1. Document Screening: Bring your CV, Date of Birth proof, educational and experience certificates, and ID proof for verification at the venue.
2. Walk-in Interview: Held on 21 August 2026 at IIA's Koramangala campus.

IIA may also conduct a written test to shortlist candidates for the interview if too many people show up. Note: IIA reserves the right to cancel the entire recruitment process at any time, or to increase or decrease the number of vacancies based on project requirements. If you misrepresent facts at any stage, your candidature will be cancelled without notice, and no TA/DA is reimbursed for attending the interview.

How to Apply

1. Download and fill the application form attached to the official notification (mention which post you are applying for — Mechanical or Optics).
2. Paste a passport-size photograph on the form.
3. Carry original certificates related to your qualification and experience, plus one set of self-certified photocopies.
4. Bring your CV, Date of Birth proof, and ID proof (Aadhar/PAN/Driving License).
5. Report to the IIA Campus, 2nd Block, Koramangala, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru - 560034 between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM on 21 August 2026 for registration — late arrivals will not be entertained.
6. Attend the walk-in interview between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 23 July 2026
• Walk-in Interview Date: 21 August 2026

• Review engineering drawings and production/process documents for TMT components
• Support inspection activities and maintain quality/inspection records at partner industries
• Coordinate with industry teams to track manufacturing progress of mechanical components (Mechanical trainee)
• Prepare optical test setups and support quality checks for optical components (Optics trainee)
• Travel to industry sites across India to monitor component fabrication and inspection
• Maintain accurate documentation of testing, inspection, and reporting
• Use CAD tools (Mechanical) or basic Python/Matlab programming (Optics) for analysis
• Report project status regularly to the India-TMT Coordination Centre (ITCC) team