Sr. Optical Engineer

ITW•Appleton, WI

About The Position

We are seeking a skilled and hands-on Senior Optical Engineer to drive the design, development, validation, and optimization of next-generation, high-power fiber laser systems. In this role, you will lead optical architecture prototyping and beam-shaping initiatives. Candidates with a proven track record of applying high-power lasers to industrial materials processing (specifically laser welding) are highly preferred. However, expertise in optical engineering with the ability to develop competency in material processing will be considered. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in laser optics and beam delivery systems with hands-on experience translating laser technology into robust industrial manufacturing solutions. This role will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including welding engineers, manufacturing engineers, product development teams, and research scientists to develop innovative laser-based solutions.

Requirements

M.S. or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
5+ years of experience working with high-power fiber laser systems ranging from 1 kW to 10+ kW.
Strong understanding of: Fiber laser architectures
Optical components and beam delivery systems, including combiners, couplers, and fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs)
Optical design and characterization
Diagnosing and mitigating high-power degradation mechanisms such as Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), thermal lensing, mode stability, and optical fiber damage.
Experience with optical test and measurement equipment.
Familiarity with laser safety requirements and standards.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and experimental skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with fiber laser welding processes.
Experience with laser process monitoring and closed-loop control.
Experience with simulation tools such as Zemax, Matlab, Python, or equivalent.
Understanding of beam shaping technologies and advanced laser processing techniques.
Experience supporting production environments and manufacturing scale-up.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, validate, and optimize high-power fiber laser systems and optical architectures.
Lead integration of laser sources, beam delivery components, process heads, sensors, and automation systems into manufacturing environments.
Develop test plans, qualification procedures, and process validation protocols.
Ensure compliance with laser safety standards, quality requirements, and industry regulations.
Analyze and improve laser beam propagation, beam quality, focusability, and energy delivery.
Develop and evaluate optical systems, beam delivery components, collimators, focusing optics, scanners, and process heads.
Support laser process development for industrial manufacturing applications.
Perform optical simulations, modeling, testing, and characterization.
Troubleshoot laser system performance issues and implement corrective actions.
Collaborate with suppliers, customers, and internal engineering teams on laser system integration projects.
Stay current with emerging technologies in fiber lasers, optics, photonics, and advanced manufacturing.
Provide technical leadership and drive optical technology roadmaps for future laser platforms.