New Product Introduction (NPI) Engineer

MLOptic; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

MLOptic in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking a New Product Introduction (NPI) Engineer to transition precision optical products from design to volume manufacturing. You will ensure manufacturability, optical performance, and cost targets for lenses, prisms, mirrors, and opto-mechanical assemblies.

Collaborate with design, metrology, manufacturing, and supply chain to ramp production, define metrology strategies, and drive changes through to production readiness, with a focus on DFx and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical/Mechanical Engineering or Physics.
• 5+ years in NPI/manufacturing within precision optics or photonics.
• Hands-on experience with optical metrology equipment.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPI programs for precision optical components and opto-mechanical assemblies from prototype to production.
• Collaborate with optical and mechanical design teams to ensure DFM, DFA, and DFT.
• Coordinate prototype builds, pilot runs, and prep for production ramp while meeting quality targets.
• Define and implement inspection and metrology strategies using interferometers, profilometers, and fixtures.
• Perform root cause analysis on yield issues and implement corrective actions.
• Develop work instructions, process flows, and training materials for production teams.
• Partner with suppliers to qualify critical components and outsourced processes.

Skills

Optical metrology equipment

Root cause analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical/Mechanical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Metrology software

Optical simulation tools

Job description

We are seeking a New Product Introduction (NPI) Engineer based in our Sunnyvale, California office responsible for transitioning precision optical products from design and prototyping into volume manufacturing. This role ensures manufacturability, optical performance, and cost efficiency for components such as lenses, mirrors, prisms, and opto-mechanical assemblies. The NPI Engineer collaborates closely with optical design, metrology, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to ensure successful product ramp and production readiness.

Location

U.S. (Sunnyvale, CA – 501 Mercury Drive) – Onsite five days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead NPI programs for precision optical components and opto-mechanical assemblies from prototype to production.
• Collaborate with optical and mechanical design teams to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM), assembly (DFA), and testability (DFT).
• Coordinate prototype engineering builds, pilot runs, and preparations for production ramp while meeting quality and performance targets.
• Define and implement inspection and metrology strategies using interferometers, profilometers and customized fixturing and test equipment.
• Perform root cause analysis on yield issues, defects, and process variation, and implement corrective actions.
• Develop work instructions, process flows, and training materials for production teams.
• Partner with suppliers to qualify critical components and outsourced processes.

Success in this role will be measured by

• Ensuring product designs are optimized for efficient, scalable production
• Ability to quickly identify and resolve technical issues during builds
• Driving product launches and keeping them on schedule
• Maintaining accurate documentation and change control processes
• Supplier and operations coordination in support of forecasted production ramp-up
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to operate in a fast-paced environment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in NPI, manufacturing engineering, applications engineering, or product development within precision optics or photonics.
• Hands‑on experience with optical metrology equipment.
• Experience with root cause analysis and problem‑solving methodologies.
• Strong communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• Experience in high‑tech industries such as semiconductor equipment, aerospace, defense, or advanced imaging systems.
• Familiarity with metrology software and optical simulation tools.
• Experience with cleanroom manufacturing environments and contamination control.
• Ability to read and interpret optical drawings, ISO 10110 standards, and GD&T.