Staff Optical Engineer

Nova Biomedical • Waltham, MA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Nova Biomedical is seeking a Staff Optical Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, verification, and validation of optical and optical-sensing subsystems for biomedical and diagnostic devices. The role provides advanced technical expertise and project-level leadership across optical imaging, spectroscopy, sensor architecture, and opto-mechanical design, working with mechanical, electrical, software, fluidic, analytical, quality, and manufacturing interfaces to support new and next-generation instrument platforms. The successful candidate will develop optical subsystems from design input through prototype testing, verification, and product-development support, independently resolving complex technical problems while guiding cross-functional contributors and less-experienced engineers.

The position supports optical subsystems throughout product development, design transfer, production, and sustaining engineering. It includes developing and maintaining design documentation, planning and performing optical testing and verification, investigating performance issues, supporting production methods and controls, and communicating technical findings and recommendations. The role is onsite in Waltham, Massachusetts, Monday through Thursday.

Nova Biomedical describes itself as a global provider of biomedical and in vitro diagnostic instrumentation, with nearly 2,000 employees and operations supporting customers in more than 100 countries. The company cites more than 70 years of scientific experience, FDA-registered and ISO-certified manufacturing, and more than 125 FDA approvals.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• At least eight years of experience developing optical subsystems for instrumentation, sensors, biomedical systems, diagnostic devices, or medical devices.
• Demonstrated experience developing optical or sensor subsystems through design input, subsystem design, prototyping, testing, verification, documentation, and cross-functional integration.
• Hands-on optical hardware development experience, including optical path design, illumination and detection approaches, imaging or spectroscopic measurement systems, prototype builds, optical alignment, characterization, and performance testing.
• Experience integrating optical subsystems with mechanical, electrical, software, fluidic, analytical, disposable sensor, manufacturing, and quality-related interfaces.
• Experience leading or supporting engineering verification of optical subsystems.
• Experience contributing to design reviews, failure mode and effects analyses, verification evidence, technical investigations, and product-development decisions.
• Experience maintaining detailed technical documentation throughout research and development.
• Strong experimental design, Design of Experiments, data analysis, troubleshooting, and system-characterization skills.
• Ability to interpret technical results and recommend appropriate design improvements.
• Working knowledge of optical design, ray tracing, modeling, data analysis, and engineering tools.
• Strong technical documentation, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional engineering and product-development teams.
• Ability to mentor engineers, facilitate technical discussions, and influence design decisions through data, analysis, and sound engineering judgment.
• Ability to work independently and provide project-level technical leadership when resolving complex design and integration challenges.
• Able to stand, walk, and move for extended periods; bend, reach, stoop, or climb as needed; perform repetitive physical tasks; and lift and carry up to 25–50 pounds as required.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment and operate tools, machinery, or technical equipment; willingness to work in varying environmental conditions such as noise and temperature.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Eight to twelve or more years of relevant industry and/or applied research experience.
• Medical device, biomedical instrumentation, diagnostic device, or regulated product-development experience.
• Experience with medical device design controls, design transfer, production support, and sustaining engineering.
• Experience with tools such as Zemax, TracePro, Python, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, ANSYS, or equivalent.
• Experience with opto-mechanical design, tolerance analysis, optical alignment, plastics or engineering polymers, disposable sensor construction, thermal or structural analysis, microfluidics, or precision mechanisms.
• Knowledge of biomedical sensing applications such as blood-gas measurement, hemolysis detection, CO-Oximetry or spectroscopic measurement, fluorescence imaging, immunoassay, hematology, or related diagnostic technologies.

Responsibilities

• Collect design inputs and translate product and system requirements into optical subsystem requirements.
• Create and maintain design-output documentation for optical subsystems used in new and next-generation instrument platforms.
• Lead or support optical subsystem architecture for imaging, spectroscopy, illumination, detection, and optical-sensing applications.
• Define optical interfaces with mechanical, electrical, fluidic, software, disposable sensor, and analytical subsystems.
• Design, model, prototype, characterize, and optimize optical paths, illumination and detection methods, opto-mechanical assemblies, imaging systems, and spectroscopic measurement approaches.
• Select and evaluate optical components according to system performance, reliability, manufacturability, and product requirements.
• Plan and execute optical testing, characterization studies, tolerance evaluations, Design of Experiments, verification protocols, and performance investigations.
• Demonstrate through testing and analysis that optical subsystems meet established design and performance requirements.
• Support feasibility studies, proof-of-concept builds, prototype development, and technical risk-reduction activities.
• Support optical subsystems throughout product development, design transfer, production, and sustaining engineering.
• Collaborate with Hardware, Chemistry, Software, Quality, Manufacturing, Applications, Service, vendors, and program leadership.
• Investigate and resolve development, production, and on-market performance issues related to optical subsystem design or operation.
• Apply structured troubleshooting and root-cause analysis to complex optical and system-level issues.
• Contribute technical input to design reviews, failure mode and effects analyses, risk-management activities, and product-development decisions.
• Maintain clear, complete, and audit-defensible technical documentation throughout research and development.
• Prepare and maintain design records, test protocols, test reports, verification evidence, technical summaries, and design history documentation.
• Support development of production methods, alignment processes, test methods, and manufacturing controls for optical subsystems.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to less-experienced engineers.
• Facilitate technical discussions and promote rigorous experimental design, data-driven decision-making, design-control discipline, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Communicate technical findings, design recommendations, risks, and project updates to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

Benefits

• Flexible medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Competitive 401(k) company match.
• Bonus program.
• Generous paid time off and paid holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Hybrid and flexible work arrangements.
• Professional development, engagement, and events.
• Company marketplace for lunch and snacks at the Norwood, Billerica, and Westbrook offices.
• Company-subsidized cafeteria at the Waltham office.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior