Electro-Optical Technician

Picarro, Inc • Santa Clara, CA

2d • $55,000 - $75,000 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a hands-on Electro-Optical Technician to support electrical board rework, troubleshooting, board bring-up, test, and assembly of next-generation spectroscopy platforms and gas measurement products. Picarro’s products deliver real-time measurements of critical gases at parts-per-billion and parts-per-trillion levels. As an Electro-Optical Technician, you will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and test teams to bring up prototype and production circuit boards, perform precision board-level rework, troubleshoot electrical and electro-optical issues, and support the integration of electronics into high-performance CRDS instruments. Optical assembly experience is valuable in this role, but the primary focus is hands-on electronics support, board debug, and reliable execution in the lab.

Requirements

• Associate degree, technical certificate, military electronics training, or equivalent hands-on experience in electronics, electro-mechanical assembly, test, or related technical work.
• Typically 3+ years of hands-on experience with PCB rework, electronics troubleshooting, board bring-up, prototype builds, test, or electro-optical hardware support.
• Demonstrated ability to read schematics, follow assembly drawings and test procedures, identify component-level issues, and work safely around powered electronics.
• Strong soldering and rework skills, including surface-mount components, fine-pitch devices, connectors, wires, and microscope-based inspection.
• Practical experience using DMMs, oscilloscopes, bench power supplies, signal generators, electronic loads, microscopes, hand tools, and basic lab equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting discipline, including the ability to isolate problems, compare against expected behavior, document observations, and escalate findings clearly.
• Good communication, organization, and documentation skills, with the ability to work effectively with engineers, technicians, manufacturing, and quality teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting prototype builds, pilot builds, ECO implementation, manufacturing transfer, or early production troubleshooting is strongly desired.
• Experience with analog circuits, low-noise electronics, photodetectors, laser driver electronics, ADC/DAC circuits, sensors, or precision instrumentation.
• Experience with optical assembly, fiber handling, lens or mirror alignment, adhesive bonding, clean handling, CRDS instruments, or laser-based spectroscopy systems.

Responsibilities

• Support the building, rework, bring-up, troubleshooting, and integration of electro-optical hardware for Picarro’s CRDS products.
• Perform board-level rework and repairs, assist with prototype and pilot builds, execute electrical tests, document findings, support root-cause investigations, and contribute to reliable handoff of hardware, processes, and test methods into manufacturing.
• Perform high-quality board-level rework, including component removal and replacement, jumper wires, trace repairs, connector work, fine-pitch soldering, and microscope-based inspection.
• Support first-power-on, functional checkout, calibration setup, and debug of prototype and production PCB assemblies using engineering instructions and test procedures.
• Use schematics, layout files, DMMs, oscilloscopes, power supplies, signal generators, and other lab equipment to diagnose board-level and system-level electrical problems.
• Install, connect, and test electronics within electro-optical assemblies, including detector boards, laser-related electronics, cables, harnesses, sensors, and related hardware.
• Execute engineering tests, collect data, record observations, help isolate failure modes, and support corrective actions for build, rework, and bring-up issues.
• Support optical assembly, fiber handling, alignment, adhesive bonding, mechanical assembly, and clean handling practices as needed for electro-optical systems.
• Assist with prototype builds, pilot builds, ECO implementation, fixture setup, cable and harness work, and transition of repeatable processes into manufacturing.
• Maintain clear rework records, bring-up notes, test results, nonconformance details, and build documentation; communicate issues and status clearly to engineering and manufacturing teams.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
• Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• 401K
• Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
• On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu-shots, etc.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree