Optical Engineer I: AI-Driven R&D for Data Storage

Folio Photonics; Longmont (CO); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Folio Photonics employee discount

Job summary

Folio Photonics is seeking an Optical Engineer I to support the development of the optical pickup unit for multilayer optical discs. You will work on-site in Longmont, CO, alongside drive and servo teams, building models and analyzing data from spinstands to inform engineering decisions.

Within the first year, you will own component-level analyses and measurements, contributing to a real product program. Strong optics fundamentals and hands-on lab work are essential, along with learning the OPU

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Optical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Solid command of geometrical and physical optics: aberrations, diffraction, NA and depth of focus, interference, and polarization.
• Experience with optical design software (Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, or equivalent): build sequential models and run analyses.
• Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for modeling and data reduction.
• Hands-on optical laboratory experience at the bench: aligning multi-element optical paths, lasers, lenses, mirrors, coatings, detectors, and mounts.
• Familiarity with optical instrumentation such as interferometers, wavefront sensors, beam profilers, spectrometers, and power meters.
• AI-augmented engineering practice: using AI tools for code generation, data reduction, literature search, and drafting; able to validate AI output.

Responsibilities

• Build, run, and extend optical models in Zemax and MATLAB or Python to support OPU and drive development.
• Interpret laboratory and spinstand measurement data; produce reports that inform engineering decisions.
• Set up, align, and operate optical test benches; collect reproducible data with good logging.
• Support component characterization and incoming inspection of lenses, coatings, sources, and detectors.
• Run optical tolerance and sensitivity analyses.
• Support optical, opto-mechanical, and system-level integration and test activities.
• Document work in test reports and memos; present results to engineering teams and leadership.

Skills

Geometrical optics

Physical optics

Optical measurement

Technical writing

AI-assisted engineering

Education

BS, MS, Ph.D. in Optical Engineering/related field

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

Code V

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Folio Photonics is seeking an Optical Engineer I to support the development of the optical pickup unit for multilayer optical discs. You will work on-site in Longmont, CO, alongside drive and servo teams, building models and analyzing data from spinstands to inform engineering decisions.

Within the first year, you will own component-level analyses and measurements, contributing to a real product program. Strong optics fundamentals and hands-on lab work are essential, along with learning the OPU