Lead R&D Engineer, Opto-Electronics

Entegris, Inc.; BLOOMINGTON (MN); On-site; USD 112,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Compensation: $112,000- $150,000 per y

Annual bonus eligibility

401(k) with match

Health, dental and vision insurance

Education assistance

Job summary

Entegris, Inc. in Bloomington, MN, is seeking a Senior Opto-Electronics Engineer to lead the design of next-generation optical sensing and instrumentation systems for demanding industrial and semiconductor applications.

You will work across mechanical, firmware, software, manufacturing and data science teams to shape architecture, drive development from concept to production, and deliver innovative metrology and inspection solutions. The role emphasizes leadership and cross-functional impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field.
• 5+ years of experience developing opto-electronic products or sensor systems.
• Strong understanding of laser systems, optical sensors, photodetectors, cameras and imaging systems, and analog/mixed-signal electronics.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of advanced opto-electronic systems, including laser-based and imaging-based sensing products.
• Design analog and digital electronics, schematics, and PCB layouts; oversee component selection.
• Develop imaging and illumination solutions for defect detection, measurement, and process monitoring.
• Release designs into production and support manufacturing scale-up; drive root cause investigations.

Skills

Optics

Electrical engineering

Imaging systems

Embedded sensing

Product development

Cross-functional leadership

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics

Master's or Ph.D. in related field

Tools

ZEMAX

Altium

LTSpice

Job description

Job Title:

Lead R&D Engineer, Opto-Electronics

Job Description:

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Opto-Electronics Engineer to join our advanced technology development team. In this role, you will lead the design and development of next-generation optical sensing and instrumentation systems used in demanding industrial and semiconductor applications.

The ideal candidate combines expertise in optics, lasers, imaging systems, electronics, embedded sensing, and product development with a strong track record of bringing complex sensor products from concept through production. You will work closely with cross-functional teams including mechanical engineering, firmware, software, manufacturing, and data science to develop innovative measurement and inspection solutions.

This position offers the opportunity to influence product architecture, evaluate emerging technologies, and solve challenging problems in optical sensing, machine vision, metrology, and process control.

System Architecture & Product Development

• Design and develop advanced opto-electronic systems including laser-based, imaging-based, and photonic sensing products.

• Lead the development of industrial sensing technologies utilizing lasers, LEDs, photodetectors, cameras, and specialized optical components.

• Define system requirements and develop architectures that balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.

• Participate in all stages of product development from concept generation through commercialization.

Optical & Electronic Design

• Design analog and digital electronics for sensor systems, including signal conditioning, photodetector interfaces, laser drivers, illumination control, and embedded processing.

• Develop electrical schematics and oversee multilayer PCB design, layout reviews, and component selection.

• Perform optical modeling, tolerance analysis, and experimental characterization of optical assemblies.

• Evaluate and integrate imaging sensors, laser sources, optics, and opto-mechanical components.

Imaging, Vision & Data Analysis

• Develop imaging and illumination solutions for defect detection, measurement, and process monitoring applications.

• Investigate machine vision and computational imaging methodologies.

• Collaborate with software and use AI to generate datasets and improve inspection performance using machine learning techniques.

• Analyze sensor performance data and establish test methodologies for product verification and validation.

Product Realization & Manufacturing Support

• Release designs into production and support manufacturing scale-up activities.

• Troubleshoot complex electrical, optical, and system-level issues impacting product performance or yield.

• Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions for field and production issues.

• Collaborate with supply chain and manufacturing organizations to improve reliability, cost, and manufacturability.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership on cross-functional development projects.

• Interface directly with field engineers, and business stakeholders to understand application needs.

• Author technical documentation including specifications, application notes, test procedures, and design reviews.

• Present project results, technical papers, and innovative concepts to internal and external audiences.

Qualifications and Preferred Skills:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or related discipline.

• 5+ years of experience developing opto-electronic products or sensor systems.

• Strong understanding of laser systems, optical sensors, photodetectors, cameras and imaging systems, and analog and mixed-signal electronics.

• Experience designing electrical schematics and supporting PCB development.

• Experience troubleshooting complex multidisciplinary systems involving optics, electronics, mechanics, and software.

• Demonstrated ability to transition technology from R&D into manufacturing.

• Strong experimental and analytical problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or related fields.
• 6+ years of experience developing opto-electronic products or sensor systems.

• Experience developing imaging sensors, laser measurement instruments, industrial inspection systems, or metrology equipment.

• Experience with semiconductor process control or advanced manufacturing instrumentation.

• Knowledge of machine vision, deep learning applications for image analysis, computational imaging, spectroscopy, optical simulation and electrical design tools such as ZEMAX, Altium, LTSpice or similar.

• Experience with embedded systems and FPGA-based architectures.

• Familiarity with reliability testing, environmental qualification, and regulatory compliance.

• Experience developing customer-facing technical documentation and application notes.

WHY WORK AT ENTEGRIS?

Lead. Inspire. Innovate. Define Your Future.

Not everyone who works for a global company shares the same background, experiences and perspectives. We leverage the differences of our employees to bring new ideas to the table. Every employee throughout the company is encouraged to share input on projects and initiatives. Our decision-making process is truly a collaborative effort as we realize there are leaders at every level of the organization. We put our values at the core of how we operate as an organization - not just when it's convenient, but in a lasting and meaningful way. We want the time and energy you spend here to have a positive impact on your life inside and outside of the office.

WHAT WE OFFER

Our total rewards package goes above and beyond just a paycheck. Whether you're looking to build your career, improve your health, or protect your wealth, we offer generous benefits to help you achieve your goals.

• Compensation: $112,000- $150,000 per year range with actual pay dependent on candidate overall skills for the role

• Annual bonus eligibility

• Progressive paid time off policy that empowers you to take the time you need to recharge

• Generous 401(K) plan with an impressive employer match with no delayed vesting

• Excellent health, dental and vision insurance packages to fit your needs

• Education assistance to support your learning journey

• A values-driven culture with colleagues that rally around People, Accountability, Creativity and Excellence

Entegris does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need Entegris immigration sponsorship (e.g., H1B, TN, STEM OPT, etc.) now or in the future.

At Entegris we are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants. Our policy is to recruit, hire, train, and reward employees for their individual abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, marital or military status.

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