Chief Engineer Metrology

a fulfilling; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Syntec Optics seeks a Chief Engineer – Metrology to lead the development and deployment of advanced optical metrology solutions. You will guide measurement strategies for fabrication, coating, and assembly, ensuring traceable results and high reliability.

This role demands deep expertise in interferometry, surface metrology, and active alignment with feedback. Responsibilities include designing custom testers, establishing calibration and MSA protocols, and leading customer audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in optical metrology or precision measurement engineering within high-precision industries (optics, photonics, aerospace, semiconductor)
• Advanced expertise in optical metrology, including Zygo scopes, interferometers, and optical profilometers
• Strong experience with optical measurement techniques, including irregularity, centration, alignment, and active alignment systems with feedback control
• Proficiency in system-level optical performance analysis, including sensor/image quality, MTF, and distortion
• Proven ability to design, develop, and implement custom optical testers and automated inspection systems
• Experience with reliability testing and qualification of optical assemblies
• Expertise in calibration, measurement uncertainty, and statistical/data-driven analysis
• Experience with automation and data analysis tools (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python)
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 / AS9100 quality standards and cleanroom manufacturing environments
• Strong leadership, technical mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence

Responsibilities

• Lead the metrology engineering strategy across optical fabrication, coating, and assembly
• Define best-in-class measurement methods for high-precision optical components and systems
• Oversee and optimize advanced metrology equipment, including Zygo interferometric scopes and systems
• Develop and standardize measurement techniques for surface irregularity and wavefront error
• Lead system-level optical performance validation, including sensor quality assessment and MTF measurement
• Architect, design, and deploy custom optical testers and automated metrology systems
• Establish calibration processes, measurement uncertainty budgets, and Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
• Ensure traceability to national standards (e.g., NIST)
• Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, and Manufacturing teams to ensure measurement capability
• Analyze metrology data to drive process improvements, yield enhancement, and defect reduction
• Support root cause analysis of optical performance issues and measurement discrepancies
• Provide technical leadership during customer audits and high-level engineering reviews
• Mentor and develop metrology engineers and technical staff
• Direct technicians as needed
• Performs other related duties and assignments as required.

Skills

Optical metrology

Interferometry

Active alignment

Centration & alignment

Sensor/MTF analysis

Automation & data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in Optical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Zygo interferometers

Profilometers

MATLAB

Python

LabVIEW

Job description

Job Summary

The Chief Engineer – Metrology at Syntec Optics serves as the technical authority for all optical measurement systems and methodologies. This role leads the development and deployment of advanced metrology solutions to ensure precise characterization of optical components and assemblies, supporting high-performance applications in aerospace, defense, medical, and semiconductor industries. The position requires deep expertise in interferometric measurement, surface metrology, active alignment, and system-level optical performance validation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the metrology engineering strategy across optical fabrication, coating, and assembly
• Define best-in-class measurement methods for high-precision optical components and systems
• Oversee and optimize advanced metrology equipment, including:
• Zygo interferometric scopes and systems
• Interferometers for transmitted and reflected wavefront measurement
• Profilometers for surface form and roughness characterization
• Develop and standardize measurement techniques for:
• Surface irregularity and wavefront error
• Optical element centration and alignment tolerances
• Active alignment processes with real-time measurement feedback
• Lead system-level optical performance validation, including:
• Sensor quality assessment
• MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) measurement
• Distortion characterization and correction analysis
• Architect, design, and deploy custom optical testers and automated metrology systems
• Establish and manage reliability testing protocols for optical systems, ensuring durability under environmental and operational stress conditions
• Define calibration processes, measurement uncertainty budgets, and Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
• Ensure traceability to national standards (e.g., NIST)
• Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, and Manufacturing teams to ensure measurement capability supports product specifications
• Analyze metrology data to drive process improvements, yield enhancement, and defect reduction
• Support root cause analysis of optical performance issues and measurement discrepancies
• Provide technical leadership during customer audits and high-level engineering reviews
• Mentor and develop metrology engineers and technical staff
• When requested, may work on special projects and various related assignments.
• Direct technicians as needed.
• Provides employee coaching and development. Assists in employment or metrology-purchase decisions.
• Performs other related duties and assignments as required.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl. The employee must also occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision and color vision. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete and abstract variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. The noise level in the work environment may range from low, moderate to loud.

Education, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in optical metrology or precision measurement engineering within high-precision industries (optics, photonics, aerospace, semiconductor)
• Advanced expertise in optical metrology, including Zygo scopes, interferometers, and optical profilometers
• Strong experience with optical measurement techniques, including irregularity, centration, alignment, and active alignment systems with feedback control
• Proficiency in system-level optical performance analysis, including sensor/image quality, MTF, and distortion
• Proven ability to design, develop, and implement custom optical testers and automated inspection systems
• Experience with reliability testing and qualification of optical assemblies
• Expertise in calibration, measurement uncertainty, and statistical/data-driven analysis
• Experience with automation and data analysis tools (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python)
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 / AS9100 quality standards and cleanroom manufacturing environments
• Strong leadership, technical mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence