Manufacturing Engineer - Optics

Voyager Technologies, Inc.•San Diego, CA

2d•$125,000 - $145,000

About The Position

The Manufacturing Engineer, Optics Lab develops, improves, documents, validates, and sustains manufacturing processes for assembling, aligning, inspecting, testing, handling, and integrating optical and optomechanical hardware. The role translates engineering requirements into repeatable production methods and supports operations, optical engineering, quality, supply chain, and program teams in meeting safety, cleanliness, optical performance, quality, delivery, cost, and production-readiness objectives. Scope and independence increase by level.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Knowledge of manufacturing process development, production documentation, root cause analysis, process validation, and continuous improvement methods.
Working knowledge of optical assembly, alignment, inspection, metrology, precision handling, or optomechanical integration principles.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, optical drawings, bills of material, specifications, work instructions, test data, and acceptance requirements.
Strong communication, hands-on problem-solving, data analysis, and cross-functional coordination skills.
Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance at the level required for the position and applicable government contract. Clearance eligibility is determined by the U.S. Government.

Nice To Haves

Experience in aerospace, defense, space, medical, laser, imaging, lidar, semiconductor, or other high-reliability optical manufacturing environments.
Experience supporting production optical alignment, precision bonding, optical cleaning, contamination control, metrology, environmental testing, or failure analysis.
Familiarity with interferometers, autocollimators, collimators, alignment telescopes, microscopes, power meters, beam profilers, coordinate measurement systems, or related optical lab equipment.
Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, PFMEA, control plans, statistical process control, measurement system analysis, process capability, and process validation.
Experience with ERP/MRP, MES, PLM, CAD, data-acquisition systems, statistical analysis tools, MATLAB, Python, or similar engineering tools.
Experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, NASA workmanship standards, cleanroom or contamination-control practices, ESD controls, or related production standards.

Responsibilities

Develop, document, and improve optical and optomechanical manufacturing processes, work instructions, travelers, routings, process specifications, tooling, fixtures, and production controls.
Support new product introduction, prototype builds, pilot production, production release, capacity planning, and sustaining production within the optics lab.
Develop and validate repeatable methods for optical cleaning, handling, bonding, mounting, alignment, focus adjustment, inspection, metrology, and final integration.
Translate optical drawings, alignment requirements, tolerances, test requirements, and contamination controls into production documentation and acceptance criteria.
Design, procure, qualify, and sustain optical assembly fixtures, alignment tooling, metrology setups, test equipment, process aids, and environmental controls.
Analyze yield, alignment performance, optical test results, defects, rework, cycle time, labor hours, process capability, and production constraints.
Drive root cause analysis and corrective action for optical performance issues, contamination events, workmanship defects, alignment escapes, equipment variation, and process instability.
Collaborate with optical, mechanical, electrical, test, and quality engineering to improve manufacturability, assembly sequence, tolerance allocation, testability, reliability, and cost.
Support nonconformance reviews, material review board activities, engineering change implementation, and disposition of optical components and assemblies.
Establish applicable process controls for cleanliness, electrostatic discharge, environmental conditions, material shelf life, adhesive preparation and cure, calibration, and tool control.
Develop training and qualification requirements for optical technicians, assemblers, inspectors, and production leads; provide hands-on build and troubleshooting support.
Support supplier technical reviews, incoming inspection criteria, process transfers, and production readiness for optical components, coatings, assemblies, and specialized services.
Participate in design reviews, production readiness reviews, risk reviews, PFMEA activities, capacity reviews, and continuous improvement events.
Ensure optics-lab manufacturing processes comply with customer requirements, safety practices, quality procedures, configuration controls, and applicable industry standards.
Mentor less experienced engineers and technical personnel as appropriate for level.