COL-2026-047 | Senior Optics Engineer

Colwyn Group; Woburn (MA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan with company匹配

Performance bonuses

Paid time off

Job summary

Colwyn Group in Woburn, MA is seeking a Senior Optics Engineer to lead end-to-end development of configurable optical devices and photonic subsystems. You will shepherd designs from simulation to miniature packaging, fiber coupling, and high‑yield manufacturing, across isolators, attenuators, switches, lasers, and more.

The role requires 5+ years in optical component design and a Master’s/PhD in relevant fields; proficiency with Zemax/Code V is expected.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s or Ph.D. in Optics, Optical Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, or Electrical Engineering (or a Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years of relevant industry experience).
• Industry Experience: 5+ years of hands‑on experience in optical component design, packaging, and commercialization.
• Technical Breadth: Passive micro‑optics, laser cavity design, fiber optic coupling, miniature optical packaging.
• Simulation & Design Tools: Zemax, Code V, LightTools, Lumerical, or equivalent.
• Lab Instrumentation: Benchtop equipment like OSAs, power meters, tunable lasers, beam profilers, polarimeters.

Responsibilities

• Lead optical design, numerical modeling, and simulation for configurable micro‑optic components.
• Drive design, testing, and transfer to manufacturing for device families (isolators, circulators, VOAs, switches, lasers).
• Develop precision optomechanical packaging and alignment fixtures.
• Establish benchtop test systems to measure IL, RL, PDL, ER, wavelength response.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to improve yield and implement DFM standards.

Skills

Optical design

Simulation & modeling

Lab instrumentation

Fiber optics

Data analysis

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in Optics/Photonics

Tools

Zemax

Code V

LightTools

Lumerical

Job description

Woburn, United States | Posted on 10/07/2026

Colwyn Group is a staffing and recruiting firm headquartered in Austin, Texas, working across healthcare, technology, and executive search. We place candidates with employers across the US. An American Staffing Association member firm.

Job Description

Senior Optics Engineer
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Workplace Type: On-site
Location: Woburn, MA (Greater Boston Area)
Estimated Base Salary: $125,000 – $165,000 / year (commensurate with experience)
Job Summary: We are seeking an experienced and technically rigorous Senior Optics Engineer to lead and support the end-to-end development, optimization, and commercialization of next-generation configurable optical devices and photonic subsystems. In this role, you will take advanced optical designs from early simulation and prototyping through miniature packaging, precision fiber coupling, and high‑yield volume manufacturing. You will work across diverse optical product families including isolators, attenuators, switches, nonlinear optics, lasers, and high‑power delivery architectures.

Key Responsibilities

Optical Design & Modeling: Lead optical design, numerical modeling, and simulation (beam propagation, polarization management, coupling efficiency) for configurable micro‑optic components.
Product Development & Commercialization: Drive the design, testing, and transfer to manufacturing for key device families: Optical Isolators, Circulators, and Variable Optical Attenuators (VOAs), High‑speed/MEMS Optical Switches and Tunable Filters, Lasers, Q‑switches, and Nonlinear Optical frequency conversion modules, High‑power fiber delivery systems and optical sensors. Miniature Packaging & Assembly: Develop precision optomechanical packaging, micro‑optic alignment fixtures, hermetic sealing, and active/passive fiber coupling methods.
Test Automation & Characterization: Establish benchtop test systems to measure insertion loss (IL), return loss (RL), polarization‑dependent loss (PDL), extinction ratio (ER), wavelength response, and optical damage thresholds.
Process & Yield Improvement: Collaborate with assembly and manufacturing teams to troubleshoot production fallout, improve assembly yield, and implement Design for Manufacturability (DFM) standards.
Documentation: Generate comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs), optical test protocols, bill of materials (BOMs), and design qualification reports.

Required Qualifications

Education: Master’s or Ph.D. in Optics, Optical Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, or Electrical Engineering (or a Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years of relevant industry experience).
Industry Experience: 5+ years of hands‑on experience in optical component design, packaging, and commercialization.
Technical Breadth: Direct design or characterization experience with at least several of the following: Passive micro‑optics (isolators, circulators, VOAs, tunable filters). Laser cavity design, Q‑switches, or nonlinear optics. Fiber optic coupling, collimation, and beam delivery. Miniature optical/optoelectronic packaging.
Simulation & Design Tools: Proficiency in optical modeling tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V, LightTools, Lumerical, or equivalent).
Lab Instrumentation: Hands‑on proficiency with benchtop equipment (optical spectrum analyzers [OSAs], power meters, tunable lasers, beam profilers, polarimeters).

Preferred Qualifications

Proficiency with automation and data collection tools (Python, LabVIEW, or MATLAB).
Experience with mechanical CAD tools (SolidWorks) for optical mount/housing design.
Familiarity with Telcordia reliability standards (GR-1209, GR-1221) or equivalent mil-spec/aerospace qualification frameworks.
Experience scaling prototypes into high‑volume manufacturing environments.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $125,000 – $165,000 / year (exact pay based on qualifications and technical interview performance)

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• Retirement: 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution/match
• Additional Perks: Performance bonuses / profit sharing, generous Paid Time Off (PTO), and company holidays

Standardized Job Board Taxonomy (For ATS Backend)
Standard Title: Senior Optical Engineer
Alternative Matching Titles: Sr. Photonics Engineer, Optical Device Development Engineer, Lead Optical Engineer
City: Woburn
State: Massachusetts (MA)
Postal Code: 01801
Country: United States
Industry: Hardware / Optics & Photonics / Semiconductors