Sr Staff Engineer – Advanced Manufacturing (Optics)

Blue Signal Search; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Signal Search seeks a Sr Staff Engineer - Advanced Manufacturing (Optics) in San Diego to turn ambitious R&D concepts into scalable, repeatable manufacturing processes.

You will lead packaging and process-development initiatives, translating product objectives into practical architectures, assembly approaches, and equipment strategies while collaborating across R&D and Operations to ensure production readiness.

Qualifications

• Experience in semiconductor and microelectronics packaging and process development.
• Hands-on expertise with advanced manufacturing methods, equipment and assembly processes.
• Proven ability to translate R&D concepts into manufacturing-ready processes and scale-up.
• Ability to operate across R&D and manufacturing with credibility to technical and Operations teams.
• Experience with DOE, Lean or Six Sigma and technology transfer is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging and process-development initiatives transforming early concepts into manufacturing-ready solutions.
• Translate product objectives into package architectures, assembly approaches, and equipment strategies.
• Apply established methods to evolving products and production requirements.
• Plan and execute hands-on experiments, prototype builds, process characterization, troubleshooting and optimization.
• Collaborate with operators, process and manufacturing engineers, and Operations to establish reliable production processes.

Skills

Semiconductor packaging

Advanced assembly

Process development

Manufacturing transfer

R&D to manufacturing

Yield improvement

Reliability analysis

DOE/Lean/Six Sigma

Technology transfer

Job description

Sr Staff Engineer – Advanced Manufacturing (Optics)

Our client is an innovative technology organization advancing sophisticated products through modern development and manufacturing solutions. They are seeking a Sr Staff Engineer - Advanced Manufacturing (Optics) to turn ambitious R&D concepts into repeatable, scalable processes. This is a high-impact, hands-on opportunity for an experienced engineer who excels in complex technical environments and enjoys developing innovative solutions. You will experiment, solve complex process challenges, and help determine how emerging technologies move from prototype to production.

This Role Offers:

• Senior-level technical ownership with significant influence over how emerging opto-electronic technologies are built and industrialized.
• A hands-on innovation environment combining advanced R&D, experimentation, process development, and real-world manufacturing.
• Direct involvement in moving novel technologies from early prototypes toward scalable, repeatable production.
• Broad collaboration across R&D, process development, manufacturing engineering, and Operations without requiring people management.
• Competitive compensation and benefits, relocation support, and opportunities for continued technical or organizational leadership.

Focus:

• Lead packaging and process-development initiatives that transform early technical concepts into manufacturing-ready solutions.
• Translate high-level product objectives into practical package architectures, assembly approaches, equipment strategies, and development plans.
• Apply established technical methods to support innovative products and evolving manufacturing requirements.
• Develop processes with scalability, yield, reliability, repeatability, equipment capability, and production readiness in mind.
• Connect advanced R&D efforts with the engineers and operators responsible for successful manufacturing implementation.
• Plan and execute hands-on experiments, prototype builds, process characterization, troubleshooting, and optimization activities.
• Address complex technical and operational challenges to improve overall manufacturing performance and consistency.
• Support the transition of new processes and technologies into efficient, scalable production.
• Collaborate with operators, process engineers, manufacturing engineers, and Operations leaders to establish reliable production processes.

Skill Set:

• Deep experience in semiconductor or microelectronics packaging, advanced assembly, and process development.
• Strong practical expertise in advanced manufacturing methods, equipment, and technical assembly processes.
• Demonstrated success developing processes with manufacturing implementation, scale-up, or production transfer as an eventual objective.
• Proven ability to operate between exploratory R&D and disciplined manufacturing environments while building credibility with both technical and Operations teams.
• Strong ambiguity tolerance with the ability to define technical approaches and process architectures from high-level objectives.
• Experience applying established manufacturing methods to evolving products and technical requirements.
• Comfortable working hands-on across laboratory, prototyping, process-development, pilot-line, and manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of yield improvement, reliability, root-cause analysis, process qualification, equipment readiness, and production ramp.
• Specialized industry experience is preferred, though candidates with strong expertise in related technical areas will also be considered. Experience with DOE, Lean or Six Sigma, and technology transfer is also beneficial.