Senior Optical Engineer

MKS InstrumentsMilpitas, CA
$111,850 - $186,400

About The Position

As a Senior Optical Engineer at Spectra-Physics, you will join our innovative laser product development engineering team to contribute to the next generation design and engineering solutions for free-space and fiber-based laser systems. You will work collaboratively within a project team and use your communication skills to work effectively with cross-functional team members.

Requirements

  • BS degree and 4+ years industry experience MS with 2+ years of industry experience or PhD in related field
  • Hands-on experience in free-space beam and optical cavity alignment for CW and pulsed laser systems
  • Hands-on experience with diode pumped pulsed solid-state lasers and amplifiers components. Experience with Q-switch laser cavities
  • Hands-on experience with operating and characterizing acousto-optic and electro-optic modulators and pulse selectors
  • Ability to independently define opto-electronic measurement procedures, set up and perform the measurements, evaluate the results and clearly communicate the conclusions to peer engineers and management
  • Ability to work self-directed and as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Nice To Haves

  • Experience with optical measurement instruments: beam parameters analyzers, power meters, auto-correlators, fast opto-electronics, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers and spectrometers, scanning interferometers
  • Laser Cavity modelling and laser dynamics
  • Proven experience in product development and ability to transfer the design to production, with an emphasis on manufacturability and product life-cycle
  • Experience with Gaussian beam propagation software tools (ReZonator, Paraxia and/or others)
  • Familiarity with ray-tracing analysis software (ZEMAX, FRED and/or others)
  • Hands-on experience with harmonic generation and nonlinear crystals (SHG, THG, SFG) and modelling basic harmonic processes using SNLO, Matlab and/or other suitable software tools
  • Experience with automated measurement and control methods (Python)

Responsibilities

  • Engineering laser oscillators, amplifiers and harmonic conversion modules through experimentation and modeling into innovative products that solve our customers most pressing challenges
  • Defining test strategies, building, testing and documenting technical data on system prototypes, creating reports, and design documentation for the product development team
  • Interacting with mechanical, electrical and software design teams to assist in overall development of the optical systems. May require device-level expertise
  • Contributing to design of optical systems by specifying, selecting and qualifying active and passive optical components, developing and benchmarking system performance models, developing and implementing test procedures, and evaluating and selecting appropriate test instrumentation
  • Conducting feasibility studies and testing on new and modified designs
  • Supporting design team members in the preparation of detailed design, design testing and prototype fabrication

Benefits

  • health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision)
  • 401(k) with company match
  • life and disability insurance
  • 12 paid holidays
  • sick time
  • 15 paid vacation days
  • 6 weeks fully paid parental leave
  • adoption assistance
  • tuition reimbursement
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