Laser Processing Engineer

GCS Recruitment Specialists; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment Specialists is seeking a principal laser process engineer to lead development, optimization, and qualification of laser processes for glass optical fiber used in a new AI-powered fiber optic product. You will own laser safety and drive production-ready processes.

You will specify laser sources, integrate optics with engineering teams, and implement DoE/ Six Sigma to improve yield, while mentoring vendors and ensuring documentation and SOPs are in place.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in materials science, physics, optics, electrical engineering, or related field.
• Hands-on experience with industrial laser systems (CO2, fiber, solid-state, or ultrafast).
• Strong understanding of how materials interact with different wavelengths and pulse durations, especially glass fiber.
• Experience developing, testing and scaling laser processing applications into production.
• Data-driven problem solving using DoE, Six Sigma and SPC.
• Experience with CAD/CAM or laser software, and with Python, MATLAB, or C++ for automated laser control.
• Familiarity with ANSI Z136 laser safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize and qualify laser processes for glass optical fiber (coating removal, cleaving, endface shaping).
• Specify and integrate laser sources, beam delivery and scanning optics with mechanical and controls engineers.
• Build DoE plans and apply Six Sigma and SPC to improve yield and process capability.
• Characterize results with interferometers, confocal microscopes, SEM and spectrometers.
• Diagnose laser hardware and software issues, tune parameters in real time and support preventive maintenance.
• Write SOPs, process specifications and qualification reports.
• Act as the technical lead with laser equipment vendors.
• Own laser safety compliance and serve as Laser Safety Officer.

Skills

Laser systems

DoE

Six Sigma

SPC

Python

MATLAB

C++

G-code

Optics

Fiber optics

Education

Relevant degree

Tools

CAD/CAM

Laser software

Job description

About the Role

We’re building production lines for a brand new fiber optic connector product driven by AI data center demand. Laser processing of glass optical fiber is central to how we build it, and we want that expertise in house. You'll lead laser process development, optimization and qualification on our custom automated equipment, and you'll be the team's go to authority on lasers and glass.

What You’ll Do

• Develop, optimize and qualify laser processes for glass optical fiber, such as coating removal, cleaving and endface shaping
• Specify and integrate laser sources, beam delivery and scanning optics with our mechanical and controls engineers
• Build DoE plans and apply Six Sigma and SPC tools to improve yield and process capability
• Characterize results with interferometers, confocal microscopes, SEM and spectrometers
• Diagnose laser hardware and software issues, tune parameters in real time and support preventive maintenance
• Write SOPs, process specifications and qualification reports
• Act as the technical lead with laser equipment vendors
• Own laser safety compliance and serve as Laser Safety Officer

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering or a related field
• Hands on experience with industrial laser systems: CO2, fiber, solid state or ultrafast (picosecond or femtosecond)
• Strong understanding of how materials interact with different wavelengths and pulse durations, especially glass fiber
• Experience developing, testing and scaling laser processing applications into production
• Data driven problem solving using DoE, Six Sigma and SPC
• Experience with CAD/CAM or laser software, and with Python, MATLAB, C++ or G code for automated laser control
• Familiarity with ANSI Z136 laser safety standards

Nice to Have

• LSO or CLSO certification
• Fiber endface geometry measurement (radius of curvature, apex offset, fiber height)
• Galvo scanner and beam profiling experience
• Background in photonics, fiber optics, semiconductor or medical device manufacturing

Why This Role

You’ll set the laser process standard for a new product line and become the team's in house expert, with real ownership of a core manufacturing step.