Optical Engineer

SGS Consulting; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SGS Consulting in Boston, MA is seeking a highly skilled Optical Engineer to lead AI&T activities. You will plan and execute extensive optical assembly, integration, and testing in laboratory environments, and collaborate with mechanical and opto-mechanical teams to design robust mounts and alignment strategies.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field, with advanced degree preferred, and hands-on experience with free-space and fiber-optic systems,

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field required.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare for extensive optical assembly, integration, and testing activities in laboratory cleanrooms.
• Develop optical system alignment approaches, derive requirements, outline process flows, and design required ground support equipment (GSE).
• Collaborate with mechanical and opto-mechanical engineers to design mounts and assemblies with appropriate degrees of freedom and adjustment resolution.
• Execute assembly and alignment of free-space and fiber-optic optical systems, including sensor integration and performance characterization.
• Specify custom optical components such as mirrors, lenses, and filters; evaluate vendor capabilities; inspect and test procured optics.
• Utilize optical test equipment including interferometers, polarimeters, laser beam profilers, alignment telescopes, and autocollimators.
• Work with fiber optic cables and components, including testing and validation methods.
• Develop and document AI&T procedures, build records, troubleshooting efforts, and issue resolution activities.
• Conduct environmental testing campaigns including thermal cycling, altitude chamber testing, vibration testing, and thermal vacuum (TVac) testing to validate system performance.

Skills

Optical assembly & test

Free-space & fiber-optic alignment

Optical metrology

Component evaluation

Environmental testing

Hardware/software integration

Troubleshooting & optimization

Education

Bachelor in Optical/Physics/EE

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job Responsibilities:

• Plan and prepare for extensive optical assembly, integration, and testing activities in laboratory cleanrooms
• Develop optical system alignment approaches, derive requirements, outline process flows, and design required ground support equipment (GSE)
• Collaborate with mechanical and opto-mechanical engineers to design mounts and assemblies with appropriate degrees of freedom and adjustment resolution
• Execute assembly and alignment of free-space and fiber-optic optical systems, including sensor integration and performance characterization
• Specify custom optical components such as mirrors, lenses, and filters; evaluate vendor capabilities; inspect and test procured optics
• Utilize optical test equipment including interferometers, polarimeters, laser beam profilers, alignment telescopes, and autocollimators
• Work with fiber optic cables and components, including testing and validation methods
• Develop and document AI&T procedures, build records, troubleshooting efforts, and issue resolution activities
• Conduct environmental testing campaigns including thermal cycling, altitude chamber testing, vibration testing, and thermal vacuum (TVac) testing to validate system performance

Skills:

• Optical assembly, integration, and test (AI&T)
• Free-space and fiber-optic system alignment
• Optical alignment instrumentation and metrology
• Optical fabrication specifications and vendor evaluation
• Environmental testing and system validation
• Hardware and software integration
• Optical system troubleshooting and performance optimization

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field required
• Advanced degree preferred