Senior Optomechanical Engineer – Wireless Communication

Technology Innovation Institute; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Technology Innovation Institute is seeking a Senior Optomechanical Engineer in Abu Dhabi to lead R&D on wireless optical communication systems. The role involves designing mounts, managing thermal and vibrational effects, and integrating fast steering mirrors and sensors in compact assemblies.

You will conduct precision metrology in a cleanroom, select materials like Invar or Zerodur, and ensure robust weatherproof enclosures. English fluency and a Master’s in Optics are required.

Qualifications

• Master degree in Optics or similar.
• At least 2 years of working experience in an R&D department (or 5 years in optical design systems).
• Good level of English (speaking and writing).

Responsibilities

• Designing kinematic mounts and flexures for lenses, prisms, and mirrors.
• Performing thermal management analyses and material selection to prevent focus drift.
• Conducting vibration and structural FE analysis for precision optics.
• Integrating steering mechanisms, FSMs, and actuators in tight spaces.
• Designing rugged, weatherproof outdoor housings with optical windows and baffles.
• Hands-on alignment and metrology in cleanroom using autocollimators and interferometers.
• Designing passive heat sinking and cooling for high-power EDFAs and laser diodes.
• Driving CAD and GD&T to enable machinists to build high-precision parts.
• Prototyping, bonding optics, and troubleshooting mechanical issues on the optical table.
• Collaborating with machine shops and vendors for cost-effective manufacturing.

Skills

Optomechanical engineering

R&D collaboration

Metrology & alignment

CAD modeling

Education

Master's degree in Optics

Tools

SolidWorks/Creo

Job description

Technology Innovation Institute is looking for a Senior Optomechanical Engineer. He/She is responsible for performing research and development activities related to Wireless optical communication system projects.

The job includes traveling overseas, on occasion for short periods, to participate in conferences, visits of suppliers or partners, trainings...

Main responsibilities include:

• Designing Kinematic Mounts & Flexures: Building custom, rock-solid mounts and flexures to hold lenses, prisms, and mirrors without squeezing the glass and distorting the wavefront.
• Thermal Management (STOP Analysis): Figuring out how temperature swings affect your bench and designing parts out of matched-CTE materials (Invar, Zerodur, Aluminum) so focus doesn't drift out in the field.
• Vibration & Structural FEA: Running stress and modal analysis to make sure fast steering mirrors, gimbals, and optics don't vibrate out of alignment when hit by wind or transport shocks.
• Integrating Steering Mechanisms: Mounting and integrating Fast Steering Mirrors (FSMs), piezo actuators, and motorized gimbals into tight spaces while keeping cabling and thermal loads under control.
• Enclosure Design & Environmental Sealing: Engineering rugged, weatherproof (IP67) outdoor housing with clear optical windows, desiccants, and stray light baffles to block scattered light.
• Hands-on Alignment & Metrology: Spending time in the cleanroom using autocollimators, interferometers, and laser trackers to align optical elements down to sub-micron tolerances.
• Laser Heat Sinking & Cooling: Designing passive heat sinks, heat pipes, or TEC mounts to pull heat away from high-power EDFAs and beacon laser diodes so they don't overheat.
• CAD Modeling & Tight-Tolerance GD&T: Driving CAD (SolidWorks/Creo) and applying strict geometric tolerancing so machinists can actually make your high-precision optomechanical parts.
• Prototyping & Cleanroom Assembly: Assembling, potting, and bonding optics with low-outgassing epoxies, and knowing how to troubleshoot mechanical issues on the optical table.
• Manufacturing (DFM/DFA): Working directly with machine shops and optics vendors to make sure custom housing, diamond-turned mirrors, and mounts are cost-effective and easy to build

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you will need to meet the following requirements:

• Master degree in Optics or similar
• At least 2 years of working experience in an R&D department (or similar environment) directly related to the topic, or 5 years in optical design systems
• Good level of English (speaking and writing)