Optical Engineer

Picarro, Inc • Santa Clara, CA

6d • $120,000 - $140,000 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a hands-on, mid-level Optical Engineer to help develop, model, optimize, test, and productize 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 Optical Engineer II, you will join a world-class team developing high-precision systems based on Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy (CRDS), broadband lasers, fiber-coupled optical architectures, coated optics, and advanced optomechanical assemblies. This role is intended for an engineer with strong optical fundamentals who can apply first-principles reasoning, Zemax-based modeling, and disciplined experimental methods to improve optical performance, robustness, manufacturability, and yield. The position reports to the Director of Spectrometer e

Requirements

• BS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field; MS preferred.
• Typically 3–5 years of hands-on experience in optical engineering, optical instrumentation, spectroscopy systems, fiber optics, laser systems, photonics, or related hardware development.
• Strong understanding of optical fundamentals, with the ability to reason from first principles and connect analytical predictions to measured system behavior.
• Practical experience with Zemax OpticStudio or equivalent optical design and analysis tools, including the ability to build useful models, run trade studies, and interpret results critically.
• Hands-on experience aligning, testing, and troubleshooting optical assemblies involving lasers, fibers, lenses, mirrors, detectors, coatings, and precision optomechanical hardware.
• Working knowledge of fiber coupling, Gaussian beam optics, optical power budgets, optical tolerancing, and component-level performance tradeoffs.
• Strong analytical troubleshooting skills, with the ability to use experimental data to isolate problems and recommend design or process improvements.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and documentation skills, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced development environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting prototype builds, pilot builds, manufacturing transfer, supplier qualification, or early production troubleshooting is strongly desired.
• Experience with CRDS, laser-based spectroscopy, high-finesse optical cavities, cavity coupling, ringdown measurements, or precision optical sensing systems.
• Experience specifying, evaluating, or qualifying optical coatings, including high-reflectivity mirrors, anti-reflection coatings, filters, windows, or low-loss coated optics.
• Experience with optical suppliers, component specifications, incoming inspection methods, qualification plans, and supplier-driven performance improvement.
• Experience with optical metrology, beam profiling, power measurement, spectral measurements, insertion loss, return loss, scatter, absorption, or environmental stability testing.
• Experience with data analysis or automation using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or equivalent tools.
• Experience with optomechanical design, precision alignment, tolerance analysis, environmental testing, reliability testing, or design for manufacturability.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design, modeling, build, integration, optimization, and transfer of advanced optical and electro-optomechanical systems for Picarro’s next-generation CRDS products.
• Support prototype and pilot builds, develop and refine optical alignment and coupling processes, select and qualify optical components, document methods and results, troubleshoot performance issues, and work with cross-functional teams to improve sensitivity, stability, manufacturability, reliability, and yield.

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