Principal Optical Engineer
Sarmal Inc•San Diego, CA
•$175,000 - $210,000•Onsite
About The Position
We are seeking a Principal Optical Engineer to design and optimize the optical detection system at the heart of our next-generation DNA sequencing platform. This individual will own the optical architecture from concept through commercialization — driving the design, simulation, tolerancing, alignment, and characterization of a highly optimized, high-sensitivity detection system, and partnering closely with cross-functional and external (CRO/CDMO) teams to bring a manufacturable product to market.
Requirements
- Minimum of 10 years of industry experience in optical engineering or optical system design, with multiple products successfully commercialized.
- Expert in optical design and analysis in Zemax OpticStudio, including sequential and non-sequential modeling, optimization, and tolerancing.
- Extensive hands-on experience operating a typical optical engineering workbench and equipment, with strong skills in optical alignment, testing, and characterization.
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with CRO/CDMOs and contract manufacturers, and a clear understanding of the key tradeoffs in make vs. buy decisions and transferring an optical design from prototype to volume manufacturing.
- Deep understanding of optical principles including aberrations, diffraction, radiometry, polarization, and detector/sensor selection.
- Working knowledge of optomechanical design, prototyping of optomechanical precision alignment, thermal effect, and system calibration method.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and collaboration skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, and external partner teams.
- M.S., or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of 10+ years of relevant industry optical engineering experience
- Track record of leading complex optical system development programs from concept through commercialization.
Nice To Haves
- Experience developing ultra-high-sensitivity detection systems (e.g., fluorescence, single-molecule, or low-light imaging) preferred.
- Experience developing optical systems for life science instruments, diagnostics, or genomics platforms preferred.
Responsibilities
- Define the optical architecture and long-term technical strategy for next-generation high-throughput DNA sequencing platforms, ensuring alignment with product performance, scalability, manufacturability, and business objectives.
- Lead the end-to-end design, modeling, and optimization optical system for a high-throughput DNA sequencer, spanning the illumination, imaging, and detection paths.
- Establish the optical technology roadmap by evaluating emerging technologies, identifying technical risks, and leading feasibility studies for future platform capabilities.
- Developing breadboard systems and carrying out Proof-of-Concept experiments and early prototyping prior to system integration.
- Perform optical design, ray tracing, tolerance analysis, and stray-light analysis in Zemax OpticStudio to meet resolution, field-of-view, throughput, and signal-to-noise requirements.
- Drive key optical trade studies, balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, and yield to converge on a robust, highly optimized, high-sensitivity architecture.
- Build, align, test, and characterize optical prototypes and subsystems on the bench, developing the fixturing and procedures needed for repeatable alignment.
- Define specifications for custom optical components, coatings, and sources, defining drawings, tolerances, and acceptance criteria for suppliers.
- Partner with development and manufacturing contractors to integrate optical systems and transfer the design to production, managing the tradeoffs between optical performance, manufacturability, and cost.
- Lead the optical system through all phases of the product development lifecycle, from feasibility and design verification through design transfer and commercial launch.
- Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, assay, and manufacturing teams to integrate the optical subsystem into the full instrument to ensure overall system performance and reliability.
- Author and review optical design documentation, analyses, and test protocols.
- Lead optical system design reviews and advise on readiness for phase exits and production release.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Company-paid life insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Generous paid time off
- Access to additional voluntary benefits, employee perks, and discount programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
