Senior Science Writer

Thorlabs Inc; Newton (NJ); On-site; USD 75,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

Thorlabs, a leading photonics manufacturer, is seeking a Senior Science Writer based in Newton, NJ (with possible travel to Lafayette, CO or Rochester, NY). You will craft technical content, images, videos, and marketing collateral to educate the photonics community and support NPI and product updates.

You will work with engineers, graphic artists, and Marketing to deliver accurate, brand-consistent materials on tight timelines. 5+ years lab experience and an advanced degree are required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of significant hands-on laboratory experience.
• Advanced degree in Physics, Optics, Lasers, or related field (or 10 years of equivalent work experience).

Responsibilities

• Project Management: Plan/execute high-quality content delivery for NPI, website updates, products, tradeshows, or marketing collateral.
• Content Strategy: Ensure site structure, cross-linking, SEO, and documentation meet standards.
• Timely Updates: Meet deadlines while handling multiple projects at varying stages.
• Communication: Guide graphics and digital teams to obtain images/videos/animations; collaborate with engineers.
• Coaching/Mentorship: Mentor juniors and editors; review updates for accuracy and branding.
• Website Enhancements: Collaborate to develop tools and improve customer experience.
• Product Road Mapping: Contribute to defining new products and enhancements.
• Project Oversite: Lead projects or ad hoc teams as needed.

Skills

Lab experience

Technical writing

Presentation skills

SEO familiarity

English writing

Education

Advanced degree in Physics, Optics, Lasers, or related field

Bachelor’s degree plus 10 years equivalent experience

Job description

At Thorlabs, we design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabscontributes to cutting-edge research and real-world innovation.

Whether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. We know every employee brings unique talents and perspectives that fuel our success, and we seek driven individuals who are excited to make an impact in a fun, fast-moving culture.

The Senior Science Writer role is responsible for strengthening Thorlabs’ position as a leading manufacturer of Photonics products through the creation of effective technical presentations, application images, videos, and other marketing collateral that inform and educate the photonics community about Thorlabs’ products/capabilities and their applications. Using photonics knowledge gained through extensive hands-on laboratory experience combined with knowledge gained through discussion with engineers, this role will define and drive the forward movement of the organization’s customer‑centric marketing efforts. This role works closely with graphic artists to create content for the website or other marketing collateral.

Although the position is based out of Newton, NJ; Lafayette, Colorado; or Rochester, New York, from time to time it may be required to undertake duties at other Thorlabs locations or to attend tradeshows.

• Project Management: Plans, develops, and executes the successful and timely delivery of high-quality technical content in support of New Product Introduction (NPI), website updates, product discontinuation/supersession, acquisitions, tradeshows, social media posts, video/animation projects, or other marketing collateral utilizing technical expertise combined with information gained from conversations with key stakeholders. Content submitted, regardless of subject complexity, should require minimal feedback when it comes to technical accuracy, completeness, and adherence to Thorlabs standards for layout.
• Content Strategy: Ensures customers can make informed and efficient decisions on which product(s) best serve their needs amidst a portfolio of 20,000+ items, developing/implementing proposals for website (re)organization as needed, ensuring strong cross linkage across the website, incorporating search engine optimization tactics as appropriate, and ensuring all documentation is comprehensive and meets organizational standards.
• Timely Updates: Consistently meets deadlines, producing technically accurate content that meets company standards all while handling multiple projects at different stages of production and at all levels of technical difficulty.
• Communication: Guides graphics and digital marketing staff by clearly and effectively communicating desired outcomes to obtain the necessary images, videos, and animations for a successful presentation. Partners with business unit leaders, engineers, and subject matter experts, as appropriate, to gather information and ensure content accuracy. Communicates effectively to address issues and achieve desired outcomes.
• Coaching/Mentorship: Able to coach junior team members and assist Editorial Content Strategists by reviewing updates to presentations created by other Science Writers to support NPI, product revisions, product feedback, and general website improvements, ensuring they follow Thorlabs’ standards and are technically sound. Independently conceives of and builds application examples and/or guides others in the construction of application examples that help customers understand how products are utilized within a lab environment.
• Website Enhancements: Collaborates with the eCommerce Project Manager and marketing management to develop, test and implement tools (e.g., configurators) that are necessary for new product introduction or an improved customer buying experience.
• Product Road Mapping: Participates in defining new products and/or product enhancement through participation in the internal product development forum.
• Project Oversite: Leads projects or ad hoc teams as needed to meet business needs.

Experience:

• 5+ years of significant hands-on laboratory experience.

Education:

• Advanced degree in Physics, Optics, Lasers, or a closely related field or a bachelor’s degree plus 10 years of equivalent work experience.

Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• Extensive laboratory experience and familiarity with photonics equipment.
• Expertise in writing brand-consistent content that meets project goals and addresses user needs.
• Strong Organizational and Planning Skills.
• Great presentation and communication skills with the ability to understand the audience, to structure effective presentations, and distill key messages to effectively inform and persuade.
• Ability to flourish with minimal guidance, in a dynamic, fast-changing environment, and to be proactive in times of ambiguity.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English.
• Ability to Multitask, Be Detail Oriented, and to Solve Problems, All While Under Tight Time Constraints.
• Familiarity with SEO best practices.

The estimated pay range for this role is $ 75,000 - $ 94,300 annually

Thorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identify or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.

Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.