Hybrid Optical Hardware Lead: From Prototype to Production

EVONA; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

EVONA is partnering with an early-stage deep-tech startup in the San Francisco Bay Area to hire a hands-on Product & Mechanical Engineering Lead. You will own the integration of optical, electrical and mechanical systems into compact, manufacturable hardware, moving from prototype to production in demanding environments.

This hybrid role combines high ownership with collaboration across internal teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• Experience taking complex hardware from development to production.
• Hands-on multidisciplinary hardware engineering experience.
• Experience integrating optical, electrical and mechanical systems.
• Strong knowledge of tolerance analysis, DFM/DFA and production readiness.
• Experience owning significant portions of product or system architecture.
• Ability to operate autonomously in a fast-moving hardware environment.
• Experience with precision optics, imaging systems, photonics, laser systems or related technologies.
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined under ITAR.

Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of optical, electrical and mechanical systems into compact, manufacturable products.
• Own system architecture and key engineering trades across size, performance, reliability, cost and manufacturability.
• Drive tolerance analysis, robustness engineering and design margins.
• Lead DFM/DFA activity and develop repeatable manufacturing and assembly processes.
• Work closely with internal engineering teams and external manufacturing partners.
• Support EMC/EMI, electrical safety and product compliance testing.
• Take hardware through prototype, test, iteration and production.
• Help establish engineering and manufacturing processes as the company scales.

Skills

Multidisciplinary hardware

System integration

Optics & photonics

DFM / DFA

Architecture ownership

Autonomous work

Tolerance engineering

Production readiness

US ITAR compliance

Job description

EVONA is partnering with an early-stage deep-tech startup in the San Francisco Bay Area to hire a hands-on Product & Mechanical Engineering Lead. You will own the integration of optical, electrical and mechanical systems into compact, manufacturable hardware, moving from prototype to production in demanding environments.

This hybrid role combines high ownership with collaboration across internal teams and external partners.