Principal Optical Process Engineer - Automated Alignment

Monarch Quantum; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

Fidelity 401(k) with 4% employer match

20 PTO days per year

13 paid holidays

9/80 work schedule

Job summary

Monarch Quantum seeks a Principal Optical Process Engineer to own active optical alignment processes and automation across production systems. You will bridge optical physics, process development, and automation, delivering repeatable, production-ready solutions.

You’ll work with cross-functional teams to move processes from development to qualification and production release. The role emphasizes designing automated systems, DOE-driven optimization, and robust measurement feedback, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, photonics, or related field.
• 10+ years in optical engineering, photonic assembly, or related discipline.
• Experience with optical alignment and photonic assembly, including fiber coupling and tolerancing.
• Ability to explain physical behavior driving active alignment and improve processes.
• Experience applying DOE, statistics, tolerance analysis, and data-driven decisions.
• Experience designing, building, integrating automated equipment for production.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize active optical alignment processes for photonic assemblies.
• Translate alignment requirements into robust automated processes for scalable production.
• Develop and validate automated alignment systems using robotics, machine vision, and real-time feedback.
• Characterize alignment processes to identify variation and establish tolerances.
• Use DOE, statistical analysis, and process capability to optimize repeatability.
• Diagnose failures across optical, mechanical, software, or procedural domains and implement corrective actions.
• Drive innovation in alignment methods and automation for product roadmap.
• Collaborate with product/design engineers to enable automated alignment in assemblies.
• Lead processes from development through qualification and production release.

Skills

Optical physics

Process development

Automation

Robotics

Machine vision

Precision motion

DOE

Statistical analysis

Root-cause analysis

Python

MATLAB

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in optical engineering/physics/photonics

Tools

CAD (SolidWorks/other)

Python

MATLAB

Machine vision equipment

Job description

Monarch Quantum seeks a Principal Optical Process Engineer to own active optical alignment processes and automation across production systems. You will bridge optical physics, process development, and automation, delivering repeatable, production-ready solutions.

You’ll work with cross-functional teams to move processes from development to qualification and production release. The role emphasizes designing automated systems, DOE-driven optimization, and robust measurement feedback, with