Senior System Engineer - Optical

Waters Corporation; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Waters Corporation invites an experienced Senior System Engineer - Optical to join our R&D team in Goleta, CA. You will own free-space optical system design, validate subsystems, and set system-level product vision while ensuring manufacturability at high volume.

You will lead optical analyses, alignment, calibration, and integration, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate across optics, fluidics, electronics, firmware, and software to deliver robust instruments.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in optics or related field with strong optical engineering foundation.
• Bachelor's degree in Physics/Astronomy, Aerospace or Optical/Mechanical Eng with 5+ years related experience.
• Master's degree with 3+ years related work experience or PhD in similar disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Decompose system requirements into optical/system-level specs and tolerances.
• Lead optical analysis, alignment, calibration, and integration activities.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive design reviews and documentation.
• Coordinate with NPI to enable volume manufacturing.

Skills

Opto-mechanical design

Zemax

FRED stray-light analysis

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

GD&T

DFM

PDM

Optical alignment

Radiometry

Image simulation

System engineering

Team mentoring

Education

Advanced degree in optics or related field

Bachelor's in Physics/Astronomy/Engineering with 5+ years experience

Master's in similar disciplines with 3+ years

PhD in similar disciplines

Tools

Zemax

FRED

Code V

CAD software

Job description

Overview

Join a dynamic and innovative R&D team dedicated to developing the next generation of light scattering, field-flow fractionation (FFF), and chromatography-based analytical instruments. As a Senior System Engineer - Optical, you will lead the design, development, integration, and optimization of precision optomechanical systems from concept through production.

Working in a multidisciplinary environment spanning optics, fluidics, electronics, firmware, software, and chemistry, you will be responsible for architecting robust optical and mechanical solutions that enable best-in-class instrument performance, reliability, manufacturability, and serviceability. You will play a key role in advancing new technology platforms while mentoring junior engineers and driving engineering best practices.

You will own free-space optical system design, validation. You will set product vision at the system level, lead design of optics, detectors, circuit boards, precision mechanisms, and mechanical enclosures that must meet user requirements, and ensure the product can be manufactured at high rate.

Responsibilities

• Decompose system requirements into optical system and subsystem requirements; derive optical specifications, drawings, interfaces, alignment approaches, tolerances, and performance budgets with adjacent engineering teams.
• Perform optical analysis—including image simulation, radiometry, stop analysis, and stray-light analysis—and plan and execute optical assembly, alignment, characterization, calibration, and integration activities.
• Participate in design reviews and document optical requirements, test methods, calibration results, as-built optical designs, and configuration changes.
• Apply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation
• Develop and review design concepts, drawings, bills of material, and assembly processes
• Conduct detailed engineering analysis and test of components, subassemblies, and instruments to verify design and specification goals
• Lead in prototype build and preproduction activities
• Provide assignments and technical mentoring to junior level Engineers, Designers, and Technicians
• Properly utilize DFM (Design For Manufacture) methods and GD&T
• Prepare, follow through with, and present design and drawing reviews
• Work closely with NPI (New Product Introduction) to support the smooth transition of design into volume manufacturing

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Advanced degree in optics, physics, engineering, mathematics, or a related field, with a strong foundation in optical engineering and experience applying it to physical systems. OR
• Bachelor's degree in Physics/Astronomy, Aerospace Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline with a minimum of 5 years of related experience OR
• Master's degree in similar disciplines with a minimum of 3 years of related work experience OR
• PhD in similar disciplines.

Skills:

• Opto-mechanical design and analysis experience with precision mounting and alignment
• Proficiency with Zemax or equivalent optical design and analysis software, along with experience in optical alignment, characterization, calibration, laboratory test methods, and design of test equipment and validation procedures.
• Experience with stray-light analysis in FRED or equivalent, modeling optical alignment procedures, and using performance-prediction tools for novel optical systems.
• Hands-on experience building and aligning optical assemblies, with a cross-functional approach to integration and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity and knowledge of the optical properties of systems such as telescopes, spectrometers, coronagraphs and imaging cameras.
• Experience developing optical systems with an emphasis on light scattering, spectroscopy
• Experience working with Optical Performance Error Budgets (e.g. wavefront error, radiometry, spectroscopy etc.)
• Proficiency in scientific computing languages such as MATLAB, Python, C/C++
• Experience with DFM (Design for Manufacture) methodology
• Experience processing ECO's, practicing organized revision control using a Product Data Management tool (PDM)
• Fluency in English - written and spoken
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively within and outside of team, possessing strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with management, peers, suppliers and customers

Preferred

• Knowledge of and experience in free-space optical principles, optical component testing/troubleshooting techniques, precision metrology techniques, manufacturing and integration processes
• Experience with Optical Subsystem Requirements generation
• Experience with Verification & Validation of Requirements
• Experience working with requirements management tools such as Jira
• Experience with the calibration of optical instrumentation
• Experience with optical ray tracing software such as Code V or Zemax
• Experience with opto-mechanical CAD software
• Experience with image chain analysis
• Leading small technical teams in the development of optical instrumentation & systems
• Prototype development and rapid iteration.
• Finite Element Analysis (CFD and experience with ANSYS considered a plus)
• Vendor and supplier management.

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT)is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide.

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state,and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status,or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Key Words

Systems Engineering, Optical engineering, Photonics, Product Architecture, Technical Leadership, Cross-Functional Leadership, Optomechanical Design, Precision Mechanical Design, Light Scattering, MALS, DLS, Optical Systems, Fluidics, Scientific Instrumentation, Precision Machining, GD&T, Tolerance Analysis, DFM, DFA, DFR, System Integration, Verification & Validation, Reliability Engineering, Root Cause Analysis, Product Development.