Principal Optical Process Engineer

Join our fast-paced, passionate team as aPrincipal Optical Process Engineer. As we scale, you will play a critical role in developing the optical alignment processes and automation that form the foundation of our production systems.

This is a highly hands-on engineering role for a self-starter who can bridgeoptical physics, process development, and automation. You will be responsible for understanding how optical elements behave during active alignment, developing processes that exploit that understanding, and transforming those processes into robust, repeatable, and fully automated production solutions.

You will work closely with optical, mechanical, robotics, software, and manufacturing engineers to take processes from early development through production. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable analyzing optical behavior, designing experiments, debugging an automated system, and driving a team toward a production-ready solution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimizeactive optical alignment processesfor precision photonic assemblies, using a deep understanding of optical physics, alignment sensitivity, coupling behavior, beam propagation, and sources of process variation.
• Translate optical alignment requirements intorobust, automated processes, with the goal of eliminating manual intervention and enabling repeatable production at scale.
• Develop, integrate, and validate automated alignment systems usingrobotics, precision motion, machine vision, optical instrumentation, and real-time measurement and feedback.
• Characterize alignment processes to understand sensitivities, identify sources of variation, and establish process windows, tolerances, and control strategies.
• UseDOE, statistical analysis, tolerance analysis, root-cause analysis, and process capability analysisto optimize processes and demonstrate repeatability and robustness.
• Diagnose process failures by determining whether the underlying cause is optical, mechanical, measurement-related, software-related, or procedural, and develop effective corrective actions.
• Drive innovation in optical alignment methods, process architecture, modeling, analysis, and automation to support the product roadmap.
• Work with product and design engineers to identify opportunities todesign products and assemblies for automated alignment and manufacturing.
• Lead processes from development through qualification and production release, including requirements definition, process development, verification, documentation, and transfer.
• Work independently and collaboratively while maintaining clear communication with engineering leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Plan and execute engineering activities including data collection, analysis, peer reviews, technical documentation, and decision-making.
• Support project engineering withscope, schedule, resource, and risk analysis.

Requirements

• This position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).

Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, photonics, or a related field.
• Minimum10 years of relevant experiencein optical engineering, photonic assembly, optical alignment, process development, or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience withoptical alignment and photonic assembly, including fiber coupling, precision component alignment, optical measurement, alignment sensitivity, tolerancing, and process variation.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and explain thephysical behavior driving an active alignment process, and to use that understanding to develop and improve the process.
• Demonstrated experience developing, characterizing, optimizing, and qualifying production processes usingDOE, statistical analysis, tolerance analysis, root-cause analysis, process capability, and data-driven decision making.
• Experience designing, building, integrating, and verifyingautomated equipment and processes, with demonstrated focus on repeatability, robustness, and production readiness.
• Experience with automated optical alignment or test usingrobotics, machine vision, precision motion, optical instrumentation, or electrical test equipment

Skills:

• Demonstrated successful execution of engineering tasks including use of mechanical CAD and quantitative analysis/programming tools, instrumentation and measurement, part fabrication or procurement, integration and test, data collection, analysis and documentation.
• Demonstrated successful execution of automated test or component alignment using robotics, machine vision, or electrical test equipment for photonics alignment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience taking amanual or semi-automated optical alignment process and converting it to a fully automated production process.
• Experience developing closed-loop alignment processes using optical performance feedback.
• Experience with robotic automation, machine vision, precision motion control, or automated metrology.
• Experience developing processes for high-precision photonic or optomechanical assemblies.
• Experience working across optical, mechanical, electrical, controls, robotics, and software disciplines.

• Experience with CAD and quantitative programming/data analysis tools such as Python, MATLAB, or similar platforms

Startup Mindset:

• You're creative, flexible, and eager to wear multiple hats.
• You're passionate about building systems from the ground up and comfortable with ambiguity and change.

Benefits

The expected annual salary range for this position is $180,000-$225,000.

As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for Monarch’s comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching
• 20 paid time off (PTO) days per year
• 13 paid company holidays
• 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)

Monarch Quantum is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.