Optical Engineer, Precision Instrumentation
Designs and builds novel precision optical instruments for two-photon neural imaging and photostimulation, owning systems from concept through reliable operation. Requires deep optical design and fabrication expertise, hands-on prototyping, and 3–12 years of relevant engineering experience.
About the job
Responsibilities
- Design precision optical systems for neuroscience experiments, including large-field-of-view, high-speed two-photon imaging and photostimulation microscopes.
- Develop an advanced miniature two-photon microscope capable of simultaneous imaging and photostimulation in freely moving animals.
- Build electronics, control hardware, and software that interface optical systems with data acquisition and the broader research stack.
- Own complex instruments end-to-end, from concept through fabrication, integration, and reliable operation.
- Work directly with scientists and industry collaborators to develop, build, and iterate instruments.
- Make design tradeoffs across performance, manufacturability, cost, and timeline.
- Equip and run an optical workshop, makerspace, or prototyping facility.
Requirements
- Experience building precision hardware in a high-precision industry, such as medical devices, robotics, aerospace, semiconductor capital equipment, or scientific instrumentation.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain hardware used for real work.
- Resourcefulness in machining, 3D printing, and outsourcing fabrication.
- Comfort developing solutions from rough ideas rather than finished specifications.
- Deep fundamentals in optical design and fabrication.
- Experience owning complex instruments from concept through reliable operation.
- Experience making and defending design tradeoffs across performance, manufacturability, cost, and timeline.
- PhD, MS, or BS with 3–12 years of experience in optical engineering, biomedical engineering, physics, or a related field.
Nice-to-haves
- Familiarity with femtosecond lasers, nonlinear microscopy, and wavefront engineering.
- Experience with optical alignment, small precise parts, and tight tolerances.
- Hands-on electronics design, including PCB layout, embedded systems, and sensor/actuator integration.
- CAD/CAM proficiency and 3D printing.
- Experience integrating hardware with data acquisition systems, DAQ, TTL synchronization, and serial/SPI protocols.
- Graduate or research experience.
Compensation
- Posted salary range: $150,000–$250,000 annually.
- Compensation is commensurate with experience and location.
Skills
Optical Design, Optical Fabrication, Two-Photon Microscopy, Photostimulation, Femtosecond Lasers, Nonlinear Microscopy, Wavefront Engineering, Optical Alignment, Pcb Layout, Embedded Systems, Cad/Cam, 3D Printing, Data Acquisition, Ttl Synchronization, Spi
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