Senior Optical Engineer, R&D

US$ 150,000 – 200,000 per year · Full-time · On-site · Mid / senior

  • San Francisco · CA
  • Posted 4 h ago
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Job description

About the Role

Lead optical system design and technical investigations for a defense technology platform developing autonomous directed-energy systems. You will partner with mechanical and electrical engineers to turn optical designs into robust hardware.

What You'll Do

  • Lead optical design and analysis for core system components.

  • Run optical investigations and trade studies to guide system-level design decisions.

  • Specify and evaluate optical components and subsystem architectures.

  • Collaborate with mechanical engineers on optical packaging, housing, and integration.

  • Perform tolerance analysis, validate performance, and guide design iterations.

  • Lead alignment, characterization, and testing of integrated optical systems.

  • Work with vendors and fabricators on manufacturability, tolerancing, and feasibility.

  • Establish best practices for optical development, validation, and technical documentation.

What We're Looking For

  • 5 to 10 or more years of experience in optical engineering, optical design, or related physics-based systems work.

  • Experience designing and analyzing optical systems built and operated as real hardware, including alignment, characterization, and hands-on debugging.

  • Ability to lead optical investigations and trade studies, apply optical theory from first principles, and make system-level design decisions.

  • Experience with optical component selection, vendor collaboration, tolerance analysis, and performance validation.

  • Mechanical fluency for effective collaboration on packaging and integration.

  • Experience with high-power laser optics, ruggedized beam delivery, beam directors, collimators, fast steering mirrors, adaptive optics, or laser communications is relevant.

  • Familiarity with Zemax/OpticStudio or Code V and approximately 1 micron Yb fiber laser systems is useful.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in optical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, or a related field.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.

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