Senior Optical Engineer, R&D

Clera Labs, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Clera Labs, Inc. is seeking a senior optical engineer to lead design and investigations of autonomous directed-energy optical systems. You will drive system-level decisions, specify components, and collaborate with mechanical engineers on packaging and integration.

The role demands strong optical theory knowledge, hands-on debugging of hardware, and experience with high-power optics, tolerancing, and vendor collaboration. On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of senior-level optical engineering experience.
• Experience designing and analyzing optical systems built as hardware with alignment and debugging.
• Strong understanding of optical theory and leading investigations and trade studies.
• Experience specifying and evaluating optical components, tolerance analysis, and vendor work.
• Familiarity with mechanical packaging and cross-discipline collaboration.
• Experience with high‑power laser optics, ruggedized beam delivery, beam directors, collimators, fast steering mirrors, adaptive optics, or laser communication terminals.
• Experience with Zemax/OpticStudio or Code V and ~1 micron fiber laser systems.
• BS or MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead optical design and analysis for core system components.
• Drive optical investigations, trade studies, and system-level design decisions.
• Specify and evaluate optical components and subsystem architectures.
• Partner with mechanical engineers on packaging, housing, and system integration.
• Conduct tolerance analysis, performance validation, and design iteration.
• Guide alignment, characterization, and testing of integrated optical systems.
• Work with vendors and fabricators on feasibility, tolerancing, and manufacturability.
• Establish best practices for optical development, validation, and technical documentation.

Skills

Optical design

Systems analysis

Tolerance analysis

Vendor coordination

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Hands-on debugging

High-power laser optics

Adaptive optics

Beam delivery

Zemax/OpticStudio

Education

BS or MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Code V

Job description

About the Role

Join the R&D team at a defense technology startup developing autonomous directed-energy systems. You will lead optical system design and investigations, applying deep optical expertise to turn designs into robust hardware.

What You'll Do

• Lead optical design and analysis for core system components.

• Drive optical investigations, trade studies, and system-level design decisions.

• Specify and evaluate optical components and subsystem architectures.

• Partner with mechanical engineers on packaging, housing, and system integration.

• Conduct tolerance analysis, performance validation, and design iteration.

• Guide alignment, characterization, and testing of integrated optical systems.

• Work with vendors and fabricators on feasibility, tolerancing, and manufacturability.

• Establish best practices for optical development, validation, and technical documentation.

What We're Looking For

• Typically 5 to 10 or more years of senior-level experience in optical engineering, optical design, or related physics-based systems work.

• Demonstrated experience designing and analyzing optical systems that were built and operated as hardware, including alignment, characterization, and hands-on debugging.

• Strong command of optical theory and experience leading investigations and trade studies that inform system-level decisions.

• Experience specifying and evaluating optical components, performing tolerance analysis and validation, and working with vendors or fabricators.

• Working familiarity with mechanical packaging and integration, and experience collaborating across engineering disciplines.

• Experience with high-power laser optics, ruggedized beam delivery, beam directors, collimators, fast steering mirrors, adaptive optics, or laser communication terminals is relevant.

• Experience with Zemax/OpticStudio or Code V, and approximately 1 micron fiber laser systems, is valuable.

• BS or MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.