Staff Optical Engineer

NOVA Biomedical GmbH; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Nova Biomedical Corporation seeks a Staff Optical Engineer to lead the design, development, and validation of optical subsystems for biomedical devices. You will guide cross‑functional teams across mechanical, electrical, software, and analytical domains to ensure robust instrument performance.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years developing optical subsystems, hands‑on hardware experience, and a strong track record in testing, DOE, and documentation for regulated medical devices.

Qualifications

• BS in a related engineering field required.
• MS in a related field preferred.
• 8+ years of experience developing optical subsystems.
• Hands-on optical hardware development including alignment and testing.
• Experience with biomedical instruments or regulated medical devices preferred.
• Strong documentation and cross‑functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Translate product and system requirements into optical subsystem requirements.
• Own optical subsystem architecture for imaging, spectroscopy, and sensing.
• Define optical interfaces with mechanical, electrical, software, and analytical subsystems.
• Design, prototype, test, and optimize optical paths and assemblies.
• Select components based on performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Lead or support verification protocols and DOE studies.
• Maintain design records, test reports, and technical summaries.
• Mentor junior engineers and communicate findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Optical Engineering

Project Leadership

Design of Experiments

Optical Subsystems

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Cross-functional Collaboration

Prototyping

Testing & Verification

Education

Bachelor of Science in Optical/Electrical/Mechanical Physics or Biomedical Engineering

Master of Science in Optical/Electrical/Mechanical Physics or related discipline (preferred)

Job description

Career Opportunities with Nova Biomedical Corporation

Nova Biomedical is an Equal Opportunity Employer in compliance with ...

Nova Biomedical: One Global Brand. One Vision. Together under one name.

Advanced Instruments and Nova Biomedical are now united under one brand, Nova Biomedical, marking a major milestone in our journey to deliver greater value to our customers. By combining our strengths, we're accelerating innovation, supporting critical workflows, and delivering world-class service across the biopharmaceutical and clinical markets.

Job Summary:

Nova Biomedical is seeking a Staff Optical Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, verification, and validation of optical and optical-sensing subsystems used in biomedical and diagnostic devices.

This role will provide advanced technical expertise and project-level leadership across optical imaging, spectroscopy, sensor architecture, and opto‑mechanical design. The Staff Optical Engineer will collaborate across related mechanical, electrical, software, fluidic, analytical, quality, and manufacturing interfaces to support new and next‑generation instrument platforms.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience developing optical subsystems from design input through prototype testing, verification, and product‑development support. This individual must be able to solve complex technical problems independently while guiding cross‑functional engineering contributors and less‑experienced engineers.

Responsibilities:

• Collect design inputs and translate product and system requirements into clear optical subsystem requirements.
• Create and maintain design‑output documentation for optical subsystems used in new and next‑generation instrument platforms.
• Lead or support optical subsystem architecture for imaging, spectroscopy, illumination, detection, and optical‑sensing applications.
• Define optical interfaces with mechanical, electrical, fluidic, software, disposable sensor, and analytical subsystems.
• Design, model, prototype, characterize, and optimize optical paths, illumination and detection methods, opto‑mechanical assemblies, imaging systems, and spectroscopic measurement approaches.
• Select and evaluate optical components based on system performance, reliability, manufacturability, and product requirements.
• Plan and execute optical testing, characterization studies, tolerance evaluations, Design of Experiments, verification protocols, and performance investigations.
• Demonstrate through testing and analysis that optical subsystems meet established design and performance requirements.
• Support feasibility studies, proof‑of‑concept builds, prototype development, and technical risk‑reduction activities.
• Support optical subsystems throughout product development, design transfer, production, and sustaining engineering.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across Hardware, Chemistry, Software, Quality, Manufacturing, Applications, Service, vendors, and program leadership.
• Investigate and resolve development, production, and on‑market performance issues related to optical subsystem design or operation.
• Apply structured troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis methods to complex optical and system‑level issues.
• Contribute technical input to design reviews, failure mode and effects analyses, risk‑management activities, and product‑development decisions.
• Maintain clear, complete, and audit‑defensible technical documentation throughout research and development.
• Prepare and maintain design records, test protocols, test reports, verification evidence, technical summaries, and design history documentation.
• Support the development of robust production methods, alignment processes, test methods, and manufacturing controls for optical subsystems.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to less‑experienced engineers.
• Facilitate technical discussions and promote rigorous experimental design, data‑driven decision‑making, design‑control discipline, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Communicate technical findings, design recommendations, risks, and project updates clearly to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related discipline required.
• Master of Science degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline preferred.
• Eight or more years of experience developing optical subsystems for instrumentation, sensors, biomedical systems, diagnostic devices, or medical devices.
• 8 to 12+ of relevant industry and/or applied research experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing optical or sensor subsystems through design input, subsystem design, prototyping, testing, verification, documentation, and cross‑functional integration.
• Hands‑on optical hardware development experience, including optical path design, illumination and detection approaches, imaging or spectroscopic measurement systems, prototype builds, optical alignment, characterization, and performance testing.
• Experience integrating optical subsystems with mechanical, electrical, software, fluidic, analytical, disposable sensor, manufacturing, and quality‑related interfaces.
• Experience leading or supporting engineering verification of optical subsystems.
• Experience contributing to design reviews, failure mode and effects analyses, verification evidence, technical investigations, and product‑development decisions.
• Experience maintaining detailed technical documentation throughout all phases of research and development.
• Medical device, biomedical instrumentation, diagnostic device, or regulated product‑development experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with medical device design controls, design transfer, production support, and sustaining engineering preferred.
• Strong experimental design, Design of Experiments, data analysis, troubleshooting, and system‑characterization skills.