Applications Engineer – Optical Metrology

Hirebridge LLC; Connecticut; On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle allowance

Mobile phone allowance

Company laptop

Healthcare stipend

Travel expenses

Training opportunities

Job summary

Hirebridge LLC in the United States is seeking an Applications Engineer – Optical Metrology to provide technical support for customers, sales teams, and distribution partners across North America. This hands-on, customer-facing role focuses on advanced optical measurement and 3D surface characterization technologies.

This role will evaluate measurement requirements, develop effective methods, install and commission equipment, and train customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Optics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to learn sophisticated precision measurement instrumentation and software.
• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to understand customer measurement challenges and translate them into practical technical solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts to engineers, scientists, quality professionals, manufacturing personnel, researchers, and management.
• Strong presentation and customer-facing communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to independently manage multiple customer and internal priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to measurement accuracy and technical quality.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with geographically dispersed technical and commercial teams.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Valid passport and ability to travel throughout North America.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently, including overnight and multi-day trips.
• Ability to satisfy applicable government, customer, export-control, security, background, or restricted-facility access requirements associated with assigned projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical applications support to customers, sales personnel, and distribution partners.
• Evaluate customer measurement and inspection requirements and recommend appropriate measurement technologies, system configurations, optical components, software tools, and testing strategies.
• Perform customer sample measurements and analyze resulting measurement data.
• Prepare professional technical reports and presentations summarizing measurement methods, findings, and recommendations.
• Conduct in-person and remote equipment demonstrations for prospective customers.
• Train customers following equipment installation and provide ongoing applications assistance.
• Participate in equipment installation, qualification, commissioning, and system verification.
• Support technically complex installations and customer applications.
• Develop repeatable measurement methodologies based on customer applications and quality requirements.
• Provide technical and applications training to sales professionals and distribution partners.
• Maintain demonstration equipment, accessories, computers, reference standards, and related technical equipment.
• Troubleshoot measurement applications, equipment performance, software, and other technical issues.
• Coordinate with engineering, service, applications, and technical teams to resolve complex customer issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve software, hardware, usability, and measurement processes based on customer feedback and field experience.
• Develop advanced knowledge of optical metrology techniques including confocal microscopy, interferometry, focus variation, optical profilometry, and 3D surface measurement.
• Support customers working with surface roughness, dimensional measurement, materials characterization, and other precision measurement applications.
• Represent the organization at trade shows, technical conferences, workshops, customer events, and other industry activities.
• Maintain accurate documentation of demonstrations, sample studies, installations, training activities, technical issues, and customer follow-up.
• Manage multiple customer projects and technical priorities while working independently in the field.
• Travel frequently to customer and partner locations throughout North America.

Skills

Analytical abilities

Technical problem-solving

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field

Job description

Salary: $55,000–$65,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications

Additional Compensation: $800/month vehicle allowance + $200/month mobile phone allowance

Job Type: Full-Time
Travel: Frequent domestic and occasional international travel within North America

Position Summary

A growing precision measurement technology company is seeking an Applications Engineer – Optical Metrology to provide technical support for customers, sales professionals, and distribution partners across North America.

This is a hands-on, customer-facing engineering position focused on advanced optical measurement and 3D surface characterization technologies. The Applications Engineer will help customers evaluate measurement requirements, develop effective measurement methods, conduct product demonstrations and sample studies, install and commission equipment, provide customer training, and troubleshoot technical applications.

The position combines applications engineering, optical metrology, technical sales support, customer training, field support, and measurement analysis and requires frequent travel to customer facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical applications support to customers, sales personnel, and distribution partners.

• Evaluate customer measurement and inspection requirements and recommend appropriate measurement technologies, system configurations, optical components, software tools, and testing strategies.

• Perform customer sample measurements and analyze resulting measurement data.

• Prepare professional technical reports and presentations summarizing measurement methods, findings, and recommendations.

• Conduct in-person and remote equipment demonstrations for prospective customers.

• Train customers following equipment installation and provide ongoing applications assistance.

• Participate in equipment installation, qualification, commissioning, and system verification.

• Support technically complex installations and customer applications.

• Develop repeatable measurement methodologies based on customer applications and quality requirements.

• Provide technical and applications training to sales professionals and distribution partners.

• Maintain demonstration equipment, accessories, computers, reference standards, and related technical equipment.

• Troubleshoot measurement applications, equipment performance, software, and other technical issues.

• Coordinate with engineering, service, applications, and technical teams to resolve complex customer issues.

• Identify opportunities to improve software, hardware, usability, and measurement processes based on customer feedback and field experience.

• Develop advanced knowledge of optical metrology techniques including confocal microscopy, interferometry, focus variation, optical profilometry, and 3D surface measurement.

• Support customers working with surface roughness, dimensional measurement, materials characterization, and other precision measurement applications.

• Represent the organization at trade shows, technical conferences, workshops, customer events, and other industry activities.

• Maintain accurate documentation of demonstrations, sample studies, installations, training activities, technical issues, and customer follow-up.

• Manage multiple customer projects and technical priorities while working independently in the field.

• Travel frequently to customer and partner locations throughout North America.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Optics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to learn sophisticated precision measurement instrumentation and software.

• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to understand customer measurement challenges and translate them into practical technical solutions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts to engineers, scientists, quality professionals, manufacturing personnel, researchers, and management.

• Strong presentation and customer-facing communication skills.

• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.

• Ability to independently manage multiple customer and internal priorities.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to measurement accuracy and technical quality.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating with geographically dispersed technical and commercial teams.

• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

• Valid passport and ability to travel throughout North America.

• Ability and willingness to travel frequently, including overnight and multi-day trips.

• Ability to satisfy applicable government, customer, export-control, security, background, or restricted-facility access requirements associated with assigned projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with optical metrology, surface metrology, microscopy, profilometry, materials characterization, dimensional metrology, or precision measurement equipment.

• Experience with confocal microscopy, interferometry, focus variation, optical profilometry, surface roughness measurement, or 3D surface measurement.

• Experience working with laboratory, manufacturing, quality-control, research, or precision inspection equipment.

• Previous experience in applications engineering, field applications engineering, technical sales support, customer training, field service, or technical service.

• Experience developing measurement procedures or repeatable inspection methodologies.

• Experience analyzing measurement data and preparing technical reports.

• Experience supporting customers in manufacturing, research, laboratory, or production environments.

• Experience supporting industries such as semiconductor, aerospace, defense, automotive, medical devices, precision manufacturing, advanced materials, or research.

• Familiarity with customer-facing technical demonstrations and equipment evaluations.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be technically curious and interested in becoming a subject‑matter expert in advanced optical measurement technologies. This person should enjoy combining hands‑on engineering with direct customer interaction.

The position is well suited for someone who can independently investigate technical challenges, communicate findings clearly, and guide customers toward effective measurement solutions. The ability to adapt to different laboratory, manufacturing, research, and quality environments is important.

Candidates should be comfortable taking ownership of customer applications from initial evaluation through implementation and technical resolution.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $55,000–$65,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience

• Vehicle Allowance: $800 per month

• Mobile Phone Allowance: $200 per month

• Company-provided computer

• Partial healthcare stipend, where applicable

• Company-paid or reimbursed approved business travel expenses

• Technical training and professional development opportunities

Work & Travel Requirements

This position requires frequent travel to customer, partner, and industry locations throughout North America. Travel may include overnight and multi‑day assignments associated with equipment demonstrations, installations, training, technical support, conferences, and customer projects.

The position involves working in a variety of professional environments, including laboratories, manufacturing facilities, quality‑control departments, research facilities, and customer production environments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.