Crystal Quality & Fabrication Workflow Specialist - Part-Time Contractor

IPG Photonics • Marlborough, MA

30d

About The Position

The Crystal Quality & Fabrication Workflow Specialist is responsible for
assessing, documenting, and coordinating the utilization of high‑performance
optical crystals throughout the full inspection–fabrication–post‑processing
cycle. This role serves as a key interface between crystal growth, fabrication,
polishing, and downstream application teams to ensure optimal use of
high‑quality material and maintain accurate tracking of crystal inventory and
movement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Optics, Physics, Engineering, or a related technical field; or equivalent practical experience in crystal fabrication, optical materials, or precision manufacturing.
• Hands‑on experience with optical inspection, crystal quality assessment, or precision materials characterization.
• Ability to perform and interpret detailed optical imaging to identify structural defects, inclusions, and other material quality attributes.
• Demonstrated experience documenting technical findings and preparing instructions for fabrication, inspection cuts, or optical element preparation.
• Strong ability to track, coordinate, and manage multi‑stage workflows, including inspection, fabrication, polishing, and post‑processing.
• Proficiency in maintaining structured technical data, including entries in R&D, manufacturing, or materials‑tracking databases.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with engineering, R&D, manufacturing, and polishing teams to guide next‑step decisions for crystal material.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in materials science, optics or 5 years of experience in a relevant field.
• Strong understanding of optical materials, crystal growth processes, and laser‑grade crystal requirements.
• Ability to read and prepare technical drawings and fabrication instructions.
• Excellent attention to detail, documentation practices, and organizational skills.
• Strong communication skills for cross‑team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed optical imaging of grown crystals to evaluate structural quality, defects, and suitability for further processing.
• Conduct post‑polishing structural inspections to confirm quality and compliance with required specifications.
• Partner with engineering, R&D, and manufacturing teams to determine appropriate applications for high‑quality crystals.
• Provide expert recommendations on next steps following inspection and fabrication outcomes.
• Prepare precise fabrication instructions for: Inspection cuts Seed fabrication Witness optical elements Selected laser optical elements
• Create and submit R&D job requests using manufacturing database.
• Track fabrication and polishing orders through internal workflows to ensure timely progress and accurate status reporting.
• Manage leftover material after fabrication, including documentation, storage, and processing of scrapped crystals when applicable.
• Maintain and continually update the R&D database with crystal movements, inspection results, fabrication data, and new characterization findings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level