Senior Staff Optical Packaging Engineer

Aurora Innovation•Mountain View, CA

About The Position

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone. At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn. We’re searching for a Senior Staff Optical Packaging Engineer to join the Lidar Research Integration team. As we transition our next-generation Photonic Engine from concept to reality, you will lead the charge in owning the full prototyping lifecycle for our cutting-edge co-packaged optics. You will play a pivotal role in transforming advanced R&D into scalable, world-changing hardware, shaping the next era of autonomous sensing technology within an elite, multi-disciplinary environment.

Requirements

PhD in Photonics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a closely related field.
Minimum of 7 years of industry R&D experience, successfully transitioning the mechanical design of optoelectronic packages into manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated experience with diverse optical components (e.g., gratings, mirrors, lenses) and reliable attachment techniques (e.g., epoxy and solder-based methods).
Expert-level knowledge of component qualification processes (e.g., GR-468), product reliability testing, and statistical analysis tools.
Proven track record in failure mode analysis and resolution for component and optical-packaging failures.

Nice To Haves

Strong command of Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Minitab) for process optimization and comprehensive root cause analysis.
Proven experience with the New Product Introduction (NPI) process, encompassing design, verification, qualification, and successful release to manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Lead the optical package design for the Photonic Engine utilized in the FirstLight long-range Lidar system.
Conduct thorough reliability and failure modes analysis for packaging designs.
Optimize manufacturing processes and troubleshoot issues by developing and executing comprehensive Design of Experiments (DOE).
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prototype and deliver the next generation of the Photonic Engine.