Job Description

Purpose of the Position

The Senior Photonics Engineer (Team Lead) is a mission critical role within our development team, working across many of our key product lines to design, develop, and release innovative products in the fields of quantum, ultrafast, and nonlinear optics.  Key responsibilities include new product ideation, prototyping and development, performance validation and testing, and release to production of advanced photonic and electronic systems. This role partners heavily with all engineering disciplines and drives requirements and implementation of the product development to meet the needs of the target application.  Position involves occasional travel (generally less than 15%).

Essential Job Functions include the following, but are not limited to:

• Identify technological pathways for future product engineering via theoretical and laboratory research and development.

• Collaborate with other Laser Division leaders to estimate market opportunities for new products

• Generate application-centric performance specifications to serve as technical requirements for partner engineering disciplines (Optical, Mechanical, Electrical, Software, and Firmware).

• (Team Lead) Set priorities and tasks for Laser and Photonics Engineering team to execute on the business plan.

• Perform tests and validate the application-centric optical performance for new and in-development electronics products, optical components (including nonlinear optics), and laser/optical systems.

• Prepare regular reports on project(s) status and progress, including Gantt charts, system diagrams, and processed data and figures.

• Assist with the release to production of new products, including

  • Driving new products from Idea through Website Release within the Thorlabs NPI process
  • Bills of Materials and Item Creation, in collaboration with other engineers, within Thorlabs’ ERP system via Engineering Change Orders
  • Assists with initial build documents, assembly instructions, and initial training of production staff

• As needed, assist the production team in support of laser and laser accessory products and optical components, including quality control/inspection of critical components or advanced troubleshooting.

Salary for this position ranges between 100k - 162K

The Company retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Requirements

_ Qualifications _

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience, with at least 2 years’ experience in industry
• Hands-on experience building optical and laser assemblies, preference for experience with advanced photonics techniques, e.g. AOM/EOM’s, spectroscopic wavelength locking, cavity locking, single frequency laser characterization, nonlinear wavelength conversion, etc.
• Experience with advanced scientific instruments desired, e.g. PID servos/PLL’s, RF devices, LIAs, spectrum analyzers, etc.

Education:

• PhD in Physics, Optics, or related discipline

Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO/Quantum) Physics experience as well as Nonlinear Optics
• Design and construction of complex optical systems that include frequency, phase, or intensity stabilization
• Expert-level use of electronics for optics and photonics applications
• Familiarity with SPDC techniques and applications
• Design for ruggedization and field deployment of optical systems is a plus
• Team or group leadership experience a plus
• Data processing, analysis, and presentation (Excel, Matlab, or similar)
• Scientific software experience (MATLAB, Python, Zemax, COMSOL, etc)

Thorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts.  The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer.  Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.

Benefits

Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.

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