Senior Optical Engineer, R&D

Clera
  • San Francisco, California
  • $150,000–$200,000 Per Year
  • Autofill and Review
6 days ago

Job Description

About the Role

Join the R&D team at a defense technology startup developing autonomous directed-energy systems. You will lead optical system design and investigations, applying deep optical expertise to turn designs into robust hardware.

What You'll Do

  • Lead optical design and analysis for core system components.

  • Drive optical investigations, trade studies, and system-level design decisions.

  • Specify and evaluate optical components and subsystem architectures.

  • Partner with mechanical engineers on packaging, housing, and system integration.

  • Conduct tolerance analysis, performance validation, and design iteration.

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

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

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

What We're Looking For

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

  • Demonstrated experience designing and analyzing optical systems that were built and operated as hardware, including alignment, characterization, and hands-on debugging.

  • Strong command of optical theory and experience leading investigations and trade studies that inform system-level decisions.

  • Experience specifying and evaluating optical components, performing tolerance analysis and validation, and working with vendors or fabricators.

  • Working familiarity with mechanical packaging and integration, and experience collaborating across engineering disciplines.

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

  • Experience with Zemax/OpticStudio or Code V, and approximately 1 micron fiber laser systems, is valuable.

  • BS or MS 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.

Numbers & Facts

LocationSan Francisco, California
Salary$150,000–$200,000 Per Year

Skills

  • Best Practicesunmatched
  • Debugging Skillsunmatched
  • Hardware Designunmatched
  • Laser Communicationsunmatched
  • Leadershipunmatched
  • Mechanical Engineeringunmatched
  • Optical Engineeringunmatched
  • Opticsunmatched
  • Physicsunmatched
  • Research & Development (R&D)unmatched
  • Startupunmatched
  • System Architectureunmatched
  • System Integration (SI)unmatched
  • Systems Analysisunmatched
  • Technical Writingunmatched
  • Testingunmatched
  • Tolerance Analysisunmatched
  • Trade Studiesunmatched
  • Validation Documentationunmatched

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