Lead Optical Characterization Engineer

Myrias Optics; Amherst, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity included

Full medical, vision and dental

Company paid disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Myrias Optics, Inc. in Amherst, MA invites a Senior Lead Optical Characterization Engineer to lead experimental characterization, define test systems, and mentor a growing team across software, hardware, and optics.

You will establish procedures, optimize data acquisition, and ensure measurement fidelity for high-volume metrology. You will contribute to meta-optics, waveguides, and diffractive optics for consumer devices, AR/VR, imaging, medical equipment, and automotive applications, working

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in optical engineering, systems engineering, or optical characterization roles.
• Demonstrated leadership or mentorship experience in a technical setting.
• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical, Mechanical or related field; Master’s/PhD preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional efforts in the development and integration of optical test systems.
• Define and enforce system-level requirements, test procedures, and verification protocols.
• Coordinate resources and timelines for optical characterization projects from concept to execution.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to a growing team of engineers and technicians.

Skills

Optical engineering

Systems thinking

Mentorship / leadership

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering or related field

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Zemax

SolidWorks

Python (scripting)

Job description

POSITION – Lead Optical Characterization Engineer

Mar 30, 2026

Company

Myrias Optics, Inc. is a fast-growing startup using proprietary nanoimprint technology to revolutionize the way optical components and systems are conceptualized, designed, and manufactured. The company is positioned to disrupt markets across a wide range of applications including consumer electronics, AR/VR, 3D scanners and LiDAR, imaging systems, optical communications, medical equipment, optical computing and more. Our unique all-inorganic imprinted optics enable metalenses, diffractive optics, waveguides all manufactured using wafer level process. By removing any organic material, we not only eliminate environmental and reliability issues but at the same time enable more complex designs with unmatched optical performance and highly cost-effective manufacturing.

POSITION – Lead Optical Characterization Engineer

Reporting to the CTO, the Lead Optical Characterization Engineer will collaborate with a talented team of engineers and scientists to test and evaluate cutting-edge Myrias Optics components and systems. Specifically, this position will lead experimental characterization of optical components, define and set up optical characterization systems, establish test and characterization procedures, develop efficient data acquisition and analysis methodologies, and grow and manage the optical characterization team. This role is ideal for someone with strong system-level thinking and hands-on optical experience, who is eager to lead complex interdisciplinary projects and mentor junior staff. You will serve as a bridge between software, hardware, and optical domains, ensuring our systems meet stringent performance and quality benchmarks. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and capable engineer to gain expertise in the growing fields of meta-optics, waveguides, and diffractive optics. Together, we can shape next-generation optical systems for consumer devices, AR/VR, medical instrumentation, automobiles, robotics, and more.

POSITION TYPE: Full time, on-site
LOCATION: Amherst, MA
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Senior (5+ years)

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Systems Engineering

• Lead cross-functional efforts in the development and integration of optical test systems.
• Define and enforce system-level requirements, test procedures, and verification protocols.
• Coordinate resources and timelines for optical characterization projects from concept to execution.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to a growing team of engineers and technicians.

Optical Characterization and Metrology

• Design optical systems for high volume screening and characterization of wafer level optics operating in mass production environments.
• Execute precise optical measurements and characterization utilizing systems involving lasers, fiber optics, cameras, and power meters.
• Establish designs and processes for alignment and integration of optical components into custom assemblies.
• Develop calibration and validation methods to ensure high measurement fidelity and reproducibility.

Software and Automation Integration

• Oversee or contribute to development of software tools for machine control, data acquisition, and image processing.
• Drive system automation strategies for scalable and repeatable test and metrology setups.

Quality Control and Troubleshooting

• Establish quality assurance workflows, analyze measurement data, and resolve systemic performance issues.
• Manage root cause analysis and continuous improvement for metrology tools and setups.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with design and fabrication teams to influence product and measurement fixture development for testability.
• Maintain detailed technical documentation, review reports, and communicate project updates across teams.

Qualifications and Requirements

Experience

• Minimum 5 years in optical engineering, systems engineering, or optical characterization roles.
• Demonstrated leadership or mentorship experience in a technical setting.

Technical Expertise

• Strong proficiency with optical instruments such as cameras, lasers, power meters, and fiber optics.
• Familiarity with machine control programming in Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar.
• Experience integrating hardware/software in optical test setups.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Master's or Ph.D. preferred.

Skills

• Deep understanding of optical principles (reflection, refraction, alignment, metrology).
• Strong systems thinking and analytical skills for debugging and optimization.
• Excellent communication skills for technical collaboration and leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with real-time control systems and/or machine vision.
• Familiarity with optical design tools (e.g., Zemax) and mechanical design tools (e.g., SolidWorks).
• Background in fast-paced R&D, manufacturing, or laboratory environments.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive Compensation Package, including equity
• Full Medical, Vision and Dental plans
• Insurance: Company paid disability insurance
• Paid time off: Vacation and sick time

EEO Statement

Myrias Optics is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affmintive Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.