Wearable Photonics Sensing Architect - Hybrid

ŌURA; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 216,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity packages

Health, dental, vision insurance, and

Mental health resources

An Ōura Ring of your own plus employee

discounts for friends & family

20 days of paid time off plus 13 paid

8 days of flexible wellness time off

Paid sick leave and parental leave

Job summary

ŌURA in San Francisco is seeking a Photonics Sensing Engineer to define, prototype, and integrate optical sensors for a low-power wearable platform. You will collaborate across hardware, firmware, and data analytics to translate requirements into robust specifications and production-ready sensor validation.

The role focuses on sensor characterization, noise reduction, and power efficiency, with cross-functional leadership and influence on sensor roadmap discussions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of optical and electrode sensor or similar sensor design and integration roles.
• Experience with optical and electrode sensors, and low-power embedded sensor interfaces.
• Strong background in sensor characterization, signal quality analysis, embedded systems, and data integrity practices.
• Excellent analytical problem-solving and written/verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working across hardware, firmware, and analytics teams.

Responsibilities

• Define, prototype and validate new sensors (optical like Raman, spectroscopy, photoacoustic, QCL etc) for low-power wearable platforms.
• Translate sensing requirements into robust hardware specifications aligned with product goals.
• Lead integration of optical sensors into Oura hardware, ensuring calibration, noise management, power efficiency, and high-quality signal acquisition.
• Design and execute sensor characterization and validation tests from prototype through production.
• Collaborate with firmware, algorithm, and systems teams to ensure accurate motion data feeds into Oura’s signal processing and machine learning stacks.
• Contribute to product planning and sensor roadmap discussions based on performance feedback and technology advances.
• Develop and maintain rigorous test methodologies, metrics, and automation frameworks for motion sensor performance evaluation.
• Analyze sensor data to diagnose edge cases and performance bottlenecks and define corrective actions.
• Engage with sensor vendors, partners, and manufacturers to assess technology options, secure components, and optimize integration into mass-production workflows.
• Documentation & Communication: Produce clear technical documentation of sensor designs, trade studies, test plans, and performance metrics.
• Present findings and recommendations to engineering leadership and cross-disciplinary stakeholders.

Skills

Optical sensors

Sensor integration

Embedded systems

Signal quality analysis

Analytical problem-solving

Job description

ŌURA in San Francisco is seeking a Photonics Sensing Engineer to define, prototype, and integrate optical sensors for a low-power wearable platform. You will collaborate across hardware, firmware, and data analytics to translate requirements into robust specifications and production-ready sensor validation.

The role focuses on sensor characterization, noise reduction, and power efficiency, with cross-functional leadership and influence on sensor roadmap discussions.