Senior Optical Systems Architect – Biotech Instrumentation

Rivercell; Paris; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity package

Biotech startup environment

Job summary

Rivercell seeks a Senior Optical Systems Engineer to own architecture, development, integration, and validation of optical subsystems. You will craft the bottom projection and top illumination/imaging paths, ensuring precise registration across optics, electronics, software, and mechanics for droplet actuation and cell observation.

You will collaborate with microfluidics, software, computer-vision, electronics, mechanical, and biology teams on interfaces, calibration, and verification for a

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience developing and integrating optical systems for scientific instruments.
• Experience taking an optical system from requirements and bench prototypes through integration and production.
• Own both projection and imaging systems and coordinate across optics, electronics, software, and mechanics.
• Fluent in English; French helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end optical architecture for the instrument.
• Translate product requirements into measurable optical specifications (wavelength, irradiance, uniformity, contrast, resolution).
• Design and prototype the bottom projection system (light sources, optics, projection lenses).
• Design and prototype the top illumination and imaging system (cameras, sensors, lenses, filters).
• Develop calibration methods mapping projected pixels, chip coordinates, and camera pixels.
• Model the effect of substrates, liquids, coatings on optical performance.
• Lead tolerancing and optomechanical co-design.
• Build benches, run tests, and characterize illumination, projection, image quality, and registration.
• Specify synchronization between patterns, excitation, illumination, camera, and software.
• Interface with computer-vision teams and ensure calibrated images.
• Select and manage suppliers; evaluate custom specs and lead times.
• Develop verification plans and production tests for prototypes and small-scale manufacturing.
• Lead root-cause analyses for optical and cross-functional failures.
• Document architectural decisions, models, and baselines.

Skills

Optical engineering

Photonic systems

Imaging science

Machine vision

Calibration

Metrology

System integration

Requirements management

Education

Engineering degree

MSc

PhD

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

CODE V

LightTools

FRED

TracePro

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Job description

Rivercell seeks a Senior Optical Systems Engineer to own architecture, development, integration, and validation of optical subsystems. You will craft the bottom projection and top illumination/imaging paths, ensuring precise registration across optics, electronics, software, and mechanics for droplet actuation and cell observation.

You will collaborate with microfluidics, software, computer-vision, electronics, mechanical, and biology teams on interfaces, calibration, and verification for a