Optics & Laser Systems Applications Scientist

Thorlabs; Jessup (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Company-paid life insurance

Generous PTO

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Thorlabs is seeking an Applications Scientist I to bridge customers with the Laser Systems and Technology unit. You will test prototypes, support production, and demonstrate product capabilities through demos and technical content.

Responsibilities include documenting results, providing remote or on-site support, and gathering feedback for continuous product improvement. Travel US and international is possible up to 15%.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of hands-on experience with optical instrumentation in academia or industry.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues.
• Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and develop application experiments and support documentation for product adoption and customer success.
• Plan and execute structured testing of prototypes and translate results into actionable feedback.
• Evaluate and benchmark prototype designs against competitive solutions.
• Create compelling product demonstrations for tradeshows, customer visits, and internal reviews.
• Author technical whitepapers, application notes, and performance reports.

Skills

Optical instrumentation

Problem solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

BS in Physics, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Materials Science

Job description

Thorlabs is seeking an Applications Scientist I to bridge customers with the Laser Systems and Technology unit. You will test prototypes, support production, and demonstrate product capabilities through demos and technical content.

Responsibilities include documenting results, providing remote or on-site support, and gathering feedback for continuous product improvement. Travel US and international is possible up to 15%.