Optical Design Engineer

Job Description

Coherent Aerospace & Defense is a leading provider of cutting-edge optical technologies dedicated to enhancing various industries including aerospace, defense, and scientific research. Our commitment to innovation and quality has positioned us as a global leader in the field of optical systems design.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, design, analyze, communicate, and execute the optical design for high-performance optical assemblies.
• Determine compliant preliminary and final optical designs, optical sensitivity, and tolerance analysis in coordination with mechanical and integration & test engineering.
• Document optical prescription and optical layout, and support fabrication, assembly, integration, and test for 100% On-Time Delivery on program.
• Investigate, identify, and resolve engineering problems involved in the manufacturing of Coherent Aerospace and Defense (Coherent A&D) products and provide a smooth transition into routine production.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Contribute to the formulation of department goals and organizational objectives.
• Demonstrate ability to understand both technical and business excellence.
• Set an exemplary example through promotion of commitment, energy, personal productivity, and mentoring; generate and drive individual and team enthusiasm, motivation, commitment, productivity, sense of urgency, and sense of task/project ownership.
• Develop a cohesive work group; foster commitment and enthusiasm; promote cooperation and coordination between peer departments by working across the organization to effectively complete programs and projects on time.
• Represent the area of professional and/or technical expertise internally and externally. May supervise the activities of others. Regularly and effectively share and transfer knowledge and expertise.
• Express ideas accurately and succinctly in oral and written form; effectively listen and assimilate; present organized information in a timely fashion.
• Review other team members' work; write and review engineering reports; participate in proposal writing; ability to facilitate complex group discussions; can organize and direct effective meetings as required.
• Direct, lead, coordinate, and mentor optical design and analysis activities for Coherent A&D development program.
• Work under consultative direction to achieve goals and objectives.
• Responsible for requirements evaluation, trade studies, preliminary and final designs, and product manufacturability on assigned projects; determine methods and procedures on new assignments independently, and coordinate activities of other personnel; develop and release optical documentation, and incorporate design input from mechanical engineering, integration and test engineering, and operations personnel.
• Lead the quotation process by reviewing customer drawings and internal quotations; lay out conceptual optical designs; work concurrently with integration and test engineers to ensure product concepts and designs are manufacturable and designed for test using existing Coherent processes; identify technical risk and requirements compliance issues that require either exceptions or development activities.
• Lead resolution efforts on technical issues as they arise during manufacturing, integration, and testing with assistance as required from project engineering, integration and test engineering, quality engineering, and operations personnel; identify root causes of optical related manufacturing, integration, and test problems using analytical techniques; provide clear and concise corrective action reports.
• Exercise wide latitude to solve high-level problems while developing new processes to address future issues.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for the organization.
• Collaborate with quality engineering on the development of qualification and acceptance test procedures.
• Partner with program management with technical advice and direction on assigned programs.
• Responsible for identification of technical scope related to proposal budgeted.
• Adhere to program financial goals and provide financial estimates and status updates to program management.
• Fully support program technical expectation and due dates for engineering on-time delivery.
• Partner with business development activities through participation in customer presentations and proposal preparation.
• Ability to lead the technical section of a multi-volume proposal.
• Partner with advanced manufacturing development by offering insights and informed suggestions for new concepts from continuous learning and lessons learned experience.

Education & Experience

Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in optical, mechanical, electrical, or manufacturing engineering, optical-physics, or a related discipline. An understanding of optical and mechanical manufacturing and test processes and the ability to apply engineering theories and concepts are essential.

• Minimum of 15 years of related experience in a professional role with Bachelor's degree; or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years with Master's or higher degree

Skills

• Lead conceptual development, detailed analysis, conceptual and detailed computer-aided (e.g. Zemax) design of optical imaging systems.
• Mastery-level understanding of physical optics, optical aberration theory, and optical system performance criteria.
• Provide leadership on formalized optical engineering content for design and technical reviews throughout the program life cycle (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR, PSR, etc.).
• Experience with problem analysis and resolution. Extensive knowledge and expertise with extremely complex assignments that very few employees can master.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results independently or working with others.
• Ability to recommend and implement improvements.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience with networked PC-based computer systems (MS Office, spreadsheets, access, graphics, Email, MRP systems, and accounting software).
• Make sound financial decisions on administrative or operational matters. Ensure engineering effective achievement of objectives.

Experience, Knowledge, and/or Specialization

• Expert understanding of optical sensors and optical sensor technology, including the design and modeling of ultraviolet, visual, and infrared waveband systems, optically passive athermal sensors, illuminations, and projection systems using coherent and incoherent sources.
• Expert technical knowledge of a wide application of principles, theories, and concepts in the field of precision optical system and subsystem design.
• Define Coherent A&D process for optical sensitivity and Monte Carlo tolerance analyses.
• Mastery-level understanding of Opto-Mechanical assemblies (Refractive vs Reflective, Visible vs MWIR, etc.).
• Expert resource for information about properties and application of optical materials: crystalline, glass, and polymer materials for refractive systems in the IR, SWIR, NIR, Visible, and UV portions of the spectrum.
• Expert resource for information about the applications and limitations with Anti-Reflective (AR), High-Reflective (HR), and filter optical coatings.
• Advanced understanding and hands-on proficiency regarding optical component or system test and metrology instruments, techniques, and performance testing, e.g. Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Transmitted Wavefront Error, Surface Figure, focal length, encircled or ensquared energy, transmission, relative illumination, veiling glare, etc.
• Lead implementation of optical alignment techniques and optical alignment tools and metrology (interferometers, spectrophotometers, autocollimators, theodolites, measuring/toolmaker microscope, lasers, etc.).
• Lead and mentor other engineers on trade studies and engineering analyses of optical alignment and tests for optical instruments.
• Advocate for clean room protocols and processes and best practice associate with optical element cleaning, handling, and packaging.
• Lead Vendor/supplier sub-contract management including optics, mechanics, tooling fabrication, and optical coatings.
• Expert understanding of optical component or system inspection per typical standards, e.g. MIL-PRF-13830B or ISO 10110, including cosmetic or functional Scratch-Dig, particle or residue contamination, reflectance, transmittance, index of refraction, surface roughness, BRDF, etc.
• Advanced understanding of materials and mounting methods for opto-mechanical systems; preparation and use of primers, one- and two-part adhesives, and elastomers.
• Advanced understanding of mechanical metrology instruments and techniques and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing Knowledge of optical and mechanical materials and fabrication processes.
• Understanding of thermal, mechanical, vibration, and shock effects on optical systems.
• Mentoring other engineers and technicians in optical design, error budgets, error analysis, optical fabrication techniques, alignment methods, and optical metrology tools.
• Ability to lead proposal activities and provides analysis, advising, and reporting on the feasibility of new projects.
• Develop technical scope, and engineering due dates, based on proposed budgets.
• Adhere to program financial expectations with the ability to guide engineering during program planning.
• Broad expertise or unique knowledge uses skills to contribute to development of company objectives and principles and to achieve goals in creative and effective ways.

Working Conditions

• Job operates in a professional office environment.
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.
• Work in a cubicle area - must be able to work in an environment where employees are on the phone/speaking causing potential distractions throughout the day.

Physical Requirements

• Standing. Particularly for sustained periods of time % of the time.
• Walk. Occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other employees accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Use hands/fingers to type/handle. Operating a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Stooping. Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001, and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company's values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

• Integrity - Create an Environment of Trust
• Collaboration - Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas
• Accountability - Own the Process and the Outcome
• Respect - Recognize the Value in Everyone
• Enthusiasm - Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations (ITAR), applicant must be a U.S. person, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8. U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

About Us

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials, and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity, and growth. Come Join Us

Note to recruiters and employment agencies: We will not pay for unsolicited resumes from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have required assistance, in writing, for a specific opening.

About the Team

II-VI Aerospace & Defense is a high technology company, offering careers in offices and campuses in California, Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. We work with emerging technology in areas of atmospheric sensing and imaging, adaptive optics, optical communications, coherent beam combining, and numerical performance analysis of atmospheric optics systems. II-VI A&D has recently been awarded several new government contracts and we are offering opportunities to leverage your technical experience and interpersonal skills for something more than a simple paycheck. If this sounds like the type of environment you are seeking at this point in your career, and if your background meets these qualifications, please apply. We will offer a competitive salary and benefits. Since II-VI A&D is a rapidly expanding organization, it means that significant opportunities exist for career advancement and professional development.

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