Sr Staff Engineer, R&D, Optical Engineer

As a Sr. Staff Optical Engineer, you will lead the design, development, and testing of advanced optical systems used within our platform. You will apply deep expertise in optical engineering, system integration, and experimental validation to help define and deliver our core technology. This role is highly cross-functional and central to the performance and reliability of our flagship product.

Responsibilities

Optical Engineering

• Develop requirements and specifications for optical subsystems.

• Perform optical analyses and modeling to guide design decisions.

• Support the build, integration, and functional testing of optical components and sensors.

Design & Development

• Lead design and validation of precision opto-mechanical assemblies.

• Establish system-level performance budgets and tolerance considerations.

• Ensure optical architectures meet nominal performance and manufacturability goals.

Experimental Methods & Metrology

· Design and execute experiments to evaluate design concepts and mitigate technical risks.

· Utilize optical test and measurement tools to characterize system performance.

· Assess optical image quality and other key performance metrics through established test methods.

Cross-Functional Integration

· Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineers throughout development.

· Work with scientific and application stakeholders to ensure optical designs align with end-use requirements.

Prototyping, Testing & Validation

• Lead prototyping efforts and drive iterative improvements based on experimental data.

• Diagnose and resolve system-level optical issues.

• Develop and execute verification and validation plans.

• Analyze performance data to support reliability improvements and product maturation.

Minimum qualifications

· B.S. or M.S. in Optical Engineering or related field.

· 10+ years of experience designing precision optical systems for production instruments or automation platforms.

· Proven ownership of complex optical systems/modules from concept through product launch.

· Experienced in Zemax or alternative optical design/analysis tools.

· Strong analytical and modeling skills.

· Skilled problem solver and proficient with problem solving methodologies.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in bioinstrumentation, analytical devices, or medical instruments.

• Experience mentoring other engineers and influencing design culture.

• Optical design experience including non-sequential analysis, ZPL Macro development and advanced system analysis.

• Proficient in programming languages such as Python, C++ to enable the development of algorithms for optical systems and liaise with the embedded systems/software group.

Salary $170-$190k Offer Bonus Offer Equity

We are an equal opportunity employer. We thrive on diversity and collaboration.