Principal Laser Engineer

MKS Instruments; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance coverage

401(k) with company match

12 paid holidays

15 paid vacation days

Job summary

MKS Instruments, located in Milpitas, California, seeks a Principal Laser Engineer to join their innovative product development team. In this role, you'll be responsible for building prototypes and contributing to the optical design of free-space and fiber-based laser systems. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams, specializing in cutting-edge laser technologies for various markets.

The ideal candidate will have an MS degree or PhD and significant industry experience, with hands-on expertise in optical components and measurement techniques. This position offers a competitive salary and a robust benefits package including health insurance and a 401(k) match.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry experience or PhD with 2+ years.
• Hands-on experience with fiber preparation and splicing.
• Proven ability to perform and evaluate opto-electronic measurements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical expert for optical design of lasers.
• Define test strategies and document system prototypes.
• Work with multi-disciplinary teams on product development.

Skills

Hands-on experience with passive and active fibers

MS degree in Engineering, Physics, Material Science or related

Experience in free-space beam and optical cavity alignment

Familiar with optical non-linear processes

Education

MS degree or PhD in Engineering, Physics or related field

Tools

Gaussian beam propagation software tools

Optical measurement instruments

Job description

A Day in Your Life at MKS:

Spectra‑Physics is the Lasers Business Unit of MKS Instruments. We have an excellent opportunity for someone like you to join our innovative product development engineering team as a Principal Laser Engineer. In this position, you will build prototypes and contribute to the optical design of free‑space and fiber‑based laser systems. You will work interactively within a project team and use your excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with cross‑functional team members. We push the boundaries of technology to develop a wide range of nanosecond, picosecond, and femtosecond lasers that address the needs of Industrial, Scientific, and Life and Health markets. If you have a passion for working with cutting‑edge laser systems, this is the role for you.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical expert for the optical design of fiber‑based and free‑space lasers. Execute experiments to test conceptual designs and to document optical system performance. Use software computational tools to aid in the design and analysis of optical system performance. Work with mechanical and electrical engineers to assist in evaluating and documenting opto‑mechanical and electro‑optical specifications.
• Define test strategies, build, test and document system prototypes: measure optical and opto‑electronic parameters and evaluate results, create test reports and generate design documentation including optical diagrams, drawings, and optical component specifications.
• Work with optical component vendors for component procurement, and to complete performance and reliability evaluation.
• Work in a multi‑disciplinary team and interact with Electrical, Mechanical, Software and Manufacturing Engineers on new product development and to transfer the design to production.
• Guide and train technicians on newly developed processes and optical measurement techniques.

Skills You Bring

• MS degree in Engineering, Physics, Material Science, Chemistry, or a related field required and 5+ years industry experience or PhD and 2+ years industry experience.
• Hands‑on experience with passive and active fibers and fiber‑optic components, including fiber preparation and splicing and component characterization.
• In‑depth knowledge of various fiber types, their advantages and disadvantages, and typical use. Experience in making proper fiber and fiber component selection for different applications.
• Hands‑on experience in free‑space beam and optical cavity alignment.
• Experience with Gaussian beam propagation software tools.
• Familiar with optical non‑linear processes (SHG, SPM, SBS, Raman etc.).
• Familiar with sub‑picosecond pulse generation, measurement and characterization.
• Hands‑on experience with operating and characterizing acousto‑optic and electro‑optic modulators and pulse selectors.
• Proven ability to independently define opto‑electronic measurement procedures, set up and perform the measurements, evaluate the results and clearly communicate the conclusions to peer engineers and management.
• Proven experience with optical measurement instruments: beam parameters analyzers, power meters, auto‑correlators, fast opto‑electronics, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers and spectrometers, scanning interferometers.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in troubleshooting and failure analysis of optical modules and systems.
• Experience with high power pulsed fiber laser design and testing.
• Experience with harmonic generation and nonlinear crystals (SHG, THG, SFG).
• Experience with external‑cavity tunable diode lasers.
• Hands‑on experience with ultra‑fast laser development and relevant technologies (mode‑locking, CPA, etc.) and characterization (auto‑correlator/FROG).
• Ability to model basic harmonic generation processes using SNLO, Matlab and/or other suitable software tools.
• Familiarity with ray‑tracing analysis software (ZEMAX, FRED and/or others).
• Experience with automated measurement and control methods (Python).

Work Authorization

We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position at this time.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Pay Range: $139,000 to $231,000 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for this role.

Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS.

Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, six weeks fully paid parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Opportunity Employer

MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EEO statements for additional details.