Optical Systems Engineer

Fab2; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Paid Time Off

Visa Sponsorship

401(k) retirement plan

Weekly Learning & Development

Job summary

fab2 is seeking a highly skilled Optical Systems Engineer to join our team. This role focuses on rapid prototyping and bringing new optical systems to production, with hands-on design, assembly, testing, and debugging.

Our portfolio includes building precision optical and optomechanical systems, integrating motion stages and metrology equipment, and iterating designs in days or weeks. A strong portfolio demonstrating built systems is encouraged, and Austin-based candidates are preferred for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Optical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, or Mechanical Engineering with optical design work
• 3+ years of industry experience designing and implementing optical systems
• Fluency in optical design and analysis: first-order layout, aberration theory, tolerance analysis and Monte Carlo yield prediction, and stray light analysis
• Familiarity with Zemax or similar optical simulation tools, including both sequential and non-sequential ray tracing
• Hands-on optical alignment and test experience (e.g., interferometry wavefront error measurement)
• Mechanical 3D CAD experience

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and develop precision optical and optomechanical components and systems
• Build, align, and test optical systems on the bench
• Build new systems and integrate off-the-shelf products, such as motion stages and metrology equipment
• Perform detailed analysis and simulation to evaluate system designs and meet constraints, including optical performance modeling
• Work with suppliers to source components and materials, including custom optics fabrication
• Design lens mounting components and methods

Skills

Optical design

Zemax

3D CAD

Optomechanics

Alignment & testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering

Tools

Zemax

CAD software

Metrology equipment

Interferometry

Job description

About fab2

The fab2 team can build anything. We design all the hardware and software needed to make chips and we make the fabs, tools, and components ourselves.
We're looking for exceptional, hands-on people who can iterate to the limits of what's possible.

fab2 was founded by Sam Zeloof and Jim Keller. Sam is best known for making chips in his garage, and Jim has been a leader in the semiconductor industry for the past 40 years.

About the team

The Precision Team operates on the nanometer scale. We make lithography, metrology and motion systems that pattern, inspect and characterize our chips in order to push our process to lower nodes.

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Optical Systems Engineer to join our team. This role is for someone who has a proven track record of rapidly prototyping complex optical systems and advancing them to the next stage of production. Our philosophy is to get things built and tested in days or weeks, not months. Because of this, a portfolio is generally required to apply: show us the things you’ve actually built!
The core responsibility of the job is the design, assembly, testing, and debugging of new optical systems and the associated mechanical components. You’ll be responsible for building new systems as well as integrating off-the-shelf products, such as motion stages and metrology equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and develop precision optical and optomechanical components and systems
• Build, align, and test optical systems on the bench
• Build new systems and integrate off-the-shelf products, such as motion stages and metrology equipment
• Perform detailed analysis and simulation to evaluate system designs and meet constraints, including optical performance modeling
• Work with suppliers to source components and materials, including custom optics fabrication
• Design lens mounting components and methods

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Optical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, or Mechanical Engineering with demonstrated optical design work
• 3+ years of industry experience designing and implementing optical systems
• Working fluency in optical design and analysis: first-order layout, aberration theory, tolerance analysis and Monte Carlo yield prediction, and stray light analysis
• Familiarity with Zemax or similar optical simulation tools, including both sequential and non-sequential ray tracing
• Hands-on optical alignment and test experience. For example interferometry wavefront error measurement, and troubleshooting
• Mechanical 3D CAD experience

Nice-to-have

• Working knowledge of precision machine design fundamentals: exact-constraint design, kinematic couplings, flexures, error budgeting, structural loops, and tolerance analysis
• Structural, Thermal, Optical Performance: modeling how mechanical deflection and thermal drift degrade optical performance
• Experience with UV or DUV (deep ultraviolet) wavelengths, including material, coating, and contamination constraints
• Experience at an early-stage startup
• Familiarity with firmware, controls, or electrical engineering

Working at fab2

We’re an early-stage hardware startup with solid funding, world-class advisors, and labs/offices in Austin, TX, Lockhart, TX, and San Francisco, CA.

Compensation:

fab2 is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role is $130,000 – $200,000. Compensation is determined based on your qualifications and experience. Our total compensation package also includes generous equity in fab2.

Benefits:

fab2 offers the following benefits, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off inclusive of Holidays and Sick Time
• Visa Sponsorship
• Life and Disability InsurancePaid Parental Leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Weekly Learning & Development opportunities
• Commuter Benefits including Parking and Late Night Uber rides from the office
• Lunches daily, Dinners 3x per week, Stocked Office Kitchen with Snacks and Spindrifts

We are an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or other legally protected statuses.

Export Control Analysis:

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.

fab2, formerly known as Atomic Semi