Optical Architect for High-Throughput Sequencing

Sarmal Inc; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Company-paid life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Employee perks and discount programs

Job summary

Sarmal, Inc. in San Diego seeks a Principal Optical Engineer to design and optimize the optical detection system at the heart of our next-generation DNA sequencing platform.

You will own optical architecture from concept through commercialization, driving design, simulation, tolerancing, alignment, and characterization of a high-sensitivity detection system while partnering with cross-functional teams and CRO/CDMO partners to deliver a manufacturable product.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of industry experience in optical engineering or optical system design.
• Proven expertise in Zemax OpticStudio with sequential and non-sequential modeling.
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, testing, and characterization.

Responsibilities

• Define the optical architecture and long-term technical strategy for next-gen DNA sequencing platforms.
• Lead end-to-end design, modeling, and optimization of the optical system (illumination, imaging, detection).
• Establish optical technology roadmap, feasibility studies, and risk identification.
• Develop breadboard systems and PoC experiments prior to integration.
• Perform design analyses (ray tracing, tolerancing, stray-light) to meet specs.
• Drive trade studies balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, and yield.
• Build, align, test, and characterize prototypes and fixtures for repeatable alignment.
• Define specs for custom components and coatings and manage supplier acceptance.

Skills

Zemax OpticStudio

Optical design

Optical analysis

System integration

Leadership

Education

MS/PhD in Optical Engineering or related

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

Job description

Sarmal, Inc. in San Diego seeks a Principal Optical Engineer to design and optimize the optical detection system at the heart of our next-generation DNA sequencing platform.

You will own optical architecture from concept through commercialization, driving design, simulation, tolerancing, alignment, and characterization of a high-sensitivity detection system while partnering with cross-functional teams and CRO/CDMO partners to deliver a manufacturable product.