Optical Design Staff Engineer

II-VI UK, Ltd.; Saxonburg (PA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent Corp. is seeking a senior optical design professional to lead and coordinate the optical design group, ensuring the right tools and procedures are in place. You will manage risk, interface with customers, and guide new technologies from prototyping to production.

The role requires a strong physics background, lens design experience, and the ability to produce concise technical reports. Candidates with CS/C++ programming skills and MSc/PhD are highly valued.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in Science or Engineering; MSc/PhD preferred.
• 5 years product design and applications experience.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills for customer interfacing.
• Solid understanding of physics and capability for theoretical analysis (optical and electrical).
• Lens design experience with CODE V / OSLO / ZEMAX / FRED or equivalent desirable.
• Programming in C or C++ desirable.
• Ability to write concise reports communicating complex optical issues.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations of the optical design group, including work distribution, documentation, software selection, and risk assessment.
• Assess technical feasibility and guide strategic direction of IR Engineering and NPI activities.
• Communicate with customers during quotation, ordering, and post-order support stages.
• Interface with sales, manufacturing, and QA to resolve design and production issues.
• Assist with patent documentation and knowledge transfer.
• Mentor and train other employees; transition prototypes to production.

Skills

Optical design experience

Risk assessment

Project management

Customer interfacing

Technical reporting

Interpersonal skills

Theoretical analysis (optical/electro‑

Education

BS in Science or Engineering

MS or PhD in relevant field

Tools

CODE V

OSLO PRO

ZEMAX

FRED

C/C++

Job description

Functions

• Support activities of the optical design. Responsible for ensuring we have the right software tools to support our customers design needs and that optical design group is proficient in using these tools. Standardize ISO work procedures within optical design group.
• Take responsibility for risk assessment of projects being undertaken. Ensure that quality of all groups output meets requirements and expectations of Coherent customers.
• Utilize optical design programs to provide component and subassembly optical designs. Ensure design specification can be met based on tolerances achievable using standard manufacturing procedures.
• Provide technical support to customers identifying and/or designing the best products to support their application.
• Develop fundamental understanding of Coherent products to enable role as technology expert. Interface directly with customer engineering groups.
• Provide optical testing support for nonstandard products.
• Act as project manager for custom projects managing entire project responsibility for cost, quality and delivery.
• Lead the development of new optical and electro-optical products. Build and qualify prototypes to meet customer and market requirements.
• Utilize Coherent Gate Review Process to ensure buy-in on technical and market strategy.
• Utilize DFMEA design reviews to ensure robustness of designs.

Job Requirements

• 4 year Science or Engineering Degree, BS minimum requirement. Post Graduate Engineering or Science Degree - MSc or PhD
• College science lab and engineering project experience, 5 years product design and applications experience.
• High organization skills, motivation, good inter-personal skills for interfacing with customers and other departments
• Strong physics understanding, therefore, able to do theoretical analysis, both optical and electrical.
• Lens design capability using CODE V, OSLO PRO, ZEMAX, and/or FRED or equivalent lens design program is desirable.
• Computer programming in C or C++ is also desirable.
• Concise report writing is also required to aid in communicating complex optical issues.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for all operations of optical design group which includes work distribution, organization, documentation, software selection, training, risk assessment design quality for the entire group.
• Often involved with proprietary information belonging to COHERENT and its customers. Involved with assessing technical feasibility towards setting strategic direction of IR Engineering and NPI activities.
• Contact with outside customers, by traveling overseas and domestically and by phone and written communications, regarding optical design and electro-optic design and support during the quotation, ordering, and post order support stages.
• Extensive interfacing with the sales department during the quotation of special optics and electro-optics.
• Strong interfacing with manufacturing and QA departments to solve design and manufacturing issues.
• Support documentation and filing of COHERENT Patents and Trade Secrets.
• Training and mentoring other COHERENT employees.
• Transfer of new products manufacturing and testing from prototype to production.
• Engineer must possess ability for self monitoring and error checking so that errors are kept to a minimum.

Job Conditions

• Office, general laboratory, high power laser operation, high electrical voltage operation.
• All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Iintegrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

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