Optical Automation Engineer

Molex; Bridgewater (MA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible spending and health savings accounts

Paid vacation/time off

Educational assistance

Job summary

Molex is seeking an Optical Automation Engineer in Bridgewater, Massachusetts to enhance automated optical test systems through hands-on lab work and software development. This role involves integrating optical instruments, troubleshooting issues, and collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams.

The ideal candidate holds a BS/MS in a relevant field and has programming experience in Python and C/C++. Familiarity with optical test equipment and automation processes will be advantageous.

Qualifications

• Hands-on or theoretical knowledge of fiber optics, lasers, detectors, and telecom concepts.
• Experience debugging HW/SW interactions from labs, capstone, internships, or industry.
• Familiarity with software quality practices including version control and testing.

Responsibilities

• Support and improve automated optical test systems for validation.
• Develop and maintain test automation software primarily in C and Python.
• Collaborate with engineers across optics, hardware, and software disciplines.

Skills

Fiber optics knowledge

Programming in Python

C/C++ programming experience

Test Automation

Optical test equipment experience

Collaboration and communication

Education

BS/MS in Physics, Optics/Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science

Tools

LabWindows/CVI

VISA/SCPI

Job description

Optical Automation Engineer

We are seeking an Optical Automation Engineer to help build and improve automated optical test systems. This role blends hands‑on optical lab work with software development, automating measurements, integrating optical instruments, and collaborating with engineers across optics, hardware, mechanical, and software disciplines.

What You Will Do

• Support and improve automated optical test systems used for development and validation.
• Work directly with optical lab equipment (e.g., Optical Spectrum Analyzers, power meters, optical switches) and help integrate it into automated workflows.
• Develop and maintain test automation software (primarily C in LabWindows/CVI and Python).
• Help troubleshoot issues across optical setup behavior, instrument communication, and software.
• Learn an existing codebase and contribute improvements in a structured, maintainable way.
• Participate in code reviews and incorporate feedback to improve quality and reliability.
• Document requirements and decisions, create well‑scoped tickets, and keep work status updated.
• Collaborate with teammates across software, optics, hardware, and mechanical engineering.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• BS/MS in Physics, Optics/Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience in optics/telecom.
• Hands‑on or theoretical knowledge of fiber optics, lasers, detectors, modulation, attenuation/OSNR, WDM, link budgets, and basic telecom concepts.
• Comfortable in labs and with test setups; experience controlling instruments via VISA/SCPI, serial, USB, Ethernet, or GPIB.
• Programming experience in Python and C/C++ (OOP); familiar with Windows APIs/DLLs; able to learn and write production‑quality code with support.
• Exposure to C‑based test automation and automating repetitive tasks (scripts, small tools, data collection/analysis).
• Experience with optical test equipment (OSA, power meter, tunable lasers, optical switches, attenuators).
• Experience debugging HW/SW interactions (labs, capstone, internships, or industry).
• Familiar with software‑quality practices including version control, testing, and code reviews.
• Strong collaboration and communication, such as asking clarifying questions, sharing progress, and documenting outcomes.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Experience in Physics and/or Optics‑related software processes.
• Knowledge of National Instruments' LabWindows programming environment.

Salary: $125,000 – $140,000 per year, plus variable pay in the form of a monetary bonus or other incentive.

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region.

Equal Opportunity Employer. We are a legal, inclusive workplace, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E‑Verify.