Optical Fabrication & Polishing Technician III

Bond Optics•Lebanon, NH

12d•$28 - $38•Onsite

About The Position

Bond Optics is seeking a highly experienced Senior Optical Fabrication & Polishing Technician III to lead complex optical fabrication work and support process excellence across the shop floor. This role is for a senior technician who can run difficult jobs including tight-tolerance work on large apertures, exotic materials, and multi-element assemblies mentor others, improve process repeatability, and partner with engineering and quality to drive yield, throughput, and consistency.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent (technical training preferred).
8+ years of hands-on optical fabrication/polishing experience (or equivalent depth in precision optics manufacturing).
Strong proficiency in conventional polishing/grinding/lapping processes.
Strong ability to read and interpret optical drawings, specifications, and travelers.
Proficient shop math skills including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as applied to optical fabrication (wedge calculations, angle work, tolerance analysis).
Demonstrated experience with precision inspection and process control.
Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and mentoring ability.
Excellent documentation habits and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Strong experience with continuous polishing, spindle polishing, and double-sided polishing/grinding equipment.
Experience with interferometers (Zygo or equivalent), autocollimators, electronic indicators, surface profilers, and microscope inspection.
Experience supporting process improvements or training programs.
Experience in aerospace, defense, semiconductor, or other high-spec manufacturing environments.
Familiarity with military optical specifications such as MIL-PRF-13830B.
Familiarity with shop-floor software, ERP/MRP systems, and production data systems.

Responsibilities

Independently set up and run complex or high-value optical fabrication jobs with minimal supervision, including tight-tolerance work on challenging substrates and geometries.
Operate and optimize conventional fabrication processes including grinding, lapping, polishing, beveling/chamfering, and edge finishing across a range of optical materials (glass, crystalline, IR-transmitting, and specialty substrates).
Work from optical drawings, travelers, process routings, and specifications to deliver parts to tight requirements.
Perform advanced in-process and final inspection using shop metrology and optical inspection tools including:
Interferometers (Zygo or equivalent) for flatness, transmitted wavefront, and surface figure
Autocollimators for wedge and angle verification
Micrometers, calipers, and electronic/dial indicators
Microscopes and visual inspection tools for cosmetic evaluation per applicable specs
Surface profilers or other metrology equipment as required
Drive process control for critical features including thickness/parallelism, wedge/angle, flatness, edge condition, and cosmetics.
Troubleshoot process and equipment issues; identify root causes and implement corrective actions in coordination with engineering and quality.
Mentor and train Technician I and II personnel on setup standards, workmanship expectations, safe handling, documentation/traceability, and quality acceptance criteria.
Support development and improvement of work instructions, process documentation, and standard methods.
Lead by example in safety, cleanliness, organization, and quality discipline.
Support production planning and priority execution by coordinating with supervisors and cross-functional teams.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives to improve yield, cycle time, and repeatability.