Optical Engineer

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Job Title: Optical Engineer

Compensation, Benefits, and Employment Type

• 3-year contract
• Salary range: $70-$105/hr.
• Job Location: Bedford, MA (80-90% onsite)
• Schedule: M-F
• Job#: 19160

Position Summary

The organization develops advanced optical, electro-optical, and laser-based technologies for demanding research, development, and field deployment applications. Projects range from laboratory-based prototype development through system integration, testing, and operational demonstrations.

The selected candidate will contribute to the design, analysis, modeling, development, integration, and testing of optical and laser systems, with an emphasis on high-power fiber laser technologies and associated subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Design, model, analyze, and test optical, electro-optical, and opto-mechanical systems.
• Develop and evaluate laser-based technologies and optical architectures.
• Support research and development efforts involving fiber lasers, beam delivery systems, and optical components.
• Develop component specifications, tolerances, test procedures, and performance metrics.
• Perform optical simulations and system-level analyses.
• Support laboratory testing, characterization, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle.
• Apply engineering methodologies to ensure performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost objectives are achieved.

Required Technical Qualifications

High-Power Fiber Lasers

• Experience with cladding-pumped fiber amplifier architectures.
• Experience with large-diameter fiber (LDF) doped fiber amplifiers.
• Experience working with high-power laser systems.
• Understanding of laser performance optimization and scaling considerations.

Optical Physics & Nonlinear Effects

• Experience analyzing and mitigating nonlinear optical effects including:
  • Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS)
  • Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS)
  • Mode Instability (MI/TMI)
  • Modal interactions and beam quality degradation mechanisms

Laser Characterization & Controls

• Experience characterizing high-power fiber-coupled pump sources.
• Familiarity with laser control systems and diagnostics.
• Experience evaluating laser performance, efficiency, stability, and thermal behavior.

Thermal Management

• Understanding of thermal management techniques for high-power optical systems.
• Experience analyzing thermal impacts on laser performance and reliability.

Optical Systems

• Experience with free-space optical systems.
• Understanding of optical alignment, beam propagation, and optical integration techniques.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cleanroom experience.
• Experience developing fiber pump combiners.
• Experience designing or utilizing cladding light strippers.
• Experience developing fiber laser thermal management solutions.
• Experience transitioning laboratory concepts into prototype or operational systems.

Clearance Requirement

Active Secret Clearance (or higher) is required.
Candidates without an active clearance should not be submitted.

Work Environment

This position requires significant hands-on laboratory work and hardware interaction.

Candidates should expect to work onsite approximately 80–90% of the time, with final scheduling determined by the hiring manager.

Travel

Limited travel may be required based on project needs.

Interview Process

• Initial technical interview with the hiring manager.
• Follow-on technical interview with engineering team members.
• Technical discussions may include system design, optical physics, laser architectures, and problem-solving exercises.

Please use the apply button to submit your resume for consideration.  A Connexion Representative will contact you shortly.

You may also send your resume and cover letter via email to the recruiter listed below. You MUST include the Job# and Job Title in your subject line.

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