Senior Optical Engineer

Torchlight Solutions; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work hours

Health and dental benefits

Meaningful equity

Job summary

Torchlight Solutions, LLC is seeking a senior optical systems engineer to own the design and architecture of FSOC laser communication terminals from concept to validated hardware and field demonstrations. You will lead device-level photonics and full system integration, developing integrated prototypes and supporting early customer demonstrations.

This is a ground-floor opportunity to shape technology, the team, and the company’s growth.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. with 3+ years (or M.S. with 5+ years) in optics, photonics, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience building, aligning, and measuring optical systems.
• Experience with FSOC, laser communications, beam control, or space qualification.
• Proficiency with Zemax, Lumerical, and Tidy3D for design and simulation.

Responsibilities

• Lead optical design and architecture of transceiver subsystems and prototypes.
• Build and integrate optical hardware, testbeds, and test systems to validate performance.
• Develop and execute test plans to characterize optoelectronic devices, then analyze and summarize results.
• Perform modeling and analysis to guide design decisions and system-level tradeoffs.
• Drive iterative prototyping from concept through laboratory and field demonstrations.
• Collaborate across photonics, electronics, firmware, and mechanical teams to define requirements and integrate subsystems.

Skills

Optics design

Lab hands-on

Project leadership

FSOC/laser comm

Integrated photonics

Education

PhD in optics

MS in optics

Tools

Zemax

Lumerical

Tidy3D

Job description

As a foundational member of our team, you'll own the optical design and architecture of our free-space optical communications (FSOC) / laser communications terminals, taking it from concept through working, validated hardware and field demonstration. The work spans device-level photonics and full system integration, so you'll turn ideas into real prototypes while helping shape the technology, the team, and the company as it grows. In your first year, you can expect to develop and test our first integrated prototypes and support early customer demonstrations. If you want deep technical work with genuine ownership and a direct line to impact, this is a ground-floor opportunity to build something from the start.

Responsibilities

• Lead the optical design and architecture of transceiver subsystems and system-level prototypes
• Build and integrate optical hardware, testbeds, and test systems to validate performance
• Develop and execute test plans to characterize optoelectronic devices, then analyze and summarize the results
• Perform modeling and analysis to guide design decisions and system-level tradeoffs
• Drive iterative prototyping from concept through laboratory and field demonstration
• Collaborate across photonics, electronics, firmware, and mechanical teams to define requirements and integrate subsystems that meet customer needs
• Contribute to documentation, technical reviews, customer demonstrations, and proposal, grant, and fundraising activities
• Flexible work hours
• Health and dental benefits
• Meaningful early-stage equity

Qualifications

• Ph.D. and 3+ years, or M.S. and 5+ years, in the field of optics
• Hands-on experience building, aligning, and measuring optical systems in the lab
• Proficiency with optical design and simulation tools (e.g., Zemax, Lumerical, Tidy3D)
• Proven ability to take hardware from concept through prototype and validation
• Experience with FSOC, laser communications, beam control, and/or space/satellite qualification
• Background in integrated photonics and optoelectronic subsystems
• Experience leading technical efforts or owning major subsystems

What you bring

• Organized and thorough, with strong instincts for prioritizing against clear objectives
• A creative problem-solver who's collaborative, eager to help build a company, and excited about cutting-edge photonics

Requirements

• Able to access ITAR/EAR-controlled technical data, which may require the company to obtain export authorization
• Some future work may require a U.S. security clearance
• Located in the Greater Boston Area

About the Company

Torchlight Solutions, LLC was started by experienced entrepreneurs to incubate advanced optical technologies. We are an engineering-first startup environment where technical ownership, rapid prototyping, and mission impact matter. Our team collaborates closely across device, system, and business functions to bring novel optical technologies from concept to demonstration. We value hard work in a team environment built on mutual trust; we believe trust is earned and supported on a foundation of integrity, transparency, and consistency.

Torchlight Solutions is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know.