DescriptionnLIGHT is searching for a Mechanical Engineer to design, document, and release production equipment, fixtures, and tooling used to manufacture high-power solid-state lasers and laser systems. Working within a multidisciplinary team, this role focuses on the equipment and tooling that enable manufacturing.
Summary: Designs, develops, and qualifies production equipment, fixtures, tooling, and automation that enable the manufacture of high-power lasers and laser systems. Collaborates with multidisciplinary engineering and Operations teams to deliver documented, repeatable, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions from design through production handoff. Serves as the first engineering escalation point for process, equipment, and product issues, using hands-on assembly, optical fiber splicing, microscope inspection, electrical and laser testing, and production data analysis to identify root causes and validate improvements.
Responsibilities: - Contributes to and/or leads mechanical design efforts in the development of new high power laser manufacturing processes, systems, products, and assembly tooling
- Works with Operations and Process development teams to establish and qualify processes and fixturing for high power laser system assembly and test procedures
- Devises, designs, builds, and qualifies robust tooling for assembly processes and electro-optic test equipment
- Works with relevant vendors to evaluate new equipment and fixture designs to reduce cost and complexity
- Plans and executes design verification test protocols to qualify equipment and fixtures for production use
- Adapts established and innovative low-cost manufacturing concepts to high power laser product systems designs
- Collaborates with electrical, controls, and optical engineers to integrate precision motion, sensors, actuators, and mechanical assemblies into automated laser assembly and test equipment.
- Creates and maintains engineering drawings, bills of materials, equipment specifications, and work instructions; releases designs and revisions through established document-control and engineering-change processes.
- Partners with Operations, Process Engineering, and Quality to investigate equipment and tooling failures, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and verify their effectiveness using production and test data.
- Applies design-for-manufacturing and assembly principles to improve fixture repeatability, assembly efficiency, and serviceability while maintaining required performance, quality, and cost objectives.
- Supports installation, commissioning, and transfer of qualified equipment and fixtures to production, including operating documentation, training, and coordination of maintenance and calibration requirements.
Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Physics, or a comparable field of study, and at least 5 years of experience in mechanical engineering or a closely related role. A master's degree is preferred.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks, engineering drawing practices, and GD&T
- Demonstrated experience with both equipment and product design
- Ability to conduct engineering analyses involving advanced materials selection; thermal, fluid, and mechanical modeling; and mechanical and/or optical tolerances. Ability to evaluate assembly and test equipment.
- Experience with low cost, high quality manufacturing techniques. Ideal candidates will have a history of adapting technologies from other industries to lower-volume, high mix manufacturing models
- Candidate shall be highly organized and detail-oriented with clear and professional written and oral communication skills
- Candidate shall be self-motivated and able to work with minimal guidance in the areas of defining specifications and requirements, assuring customer needs are addressed, and delivering fully documented solutions
- Working knowledge of precision machining and fabrication methods, dimensional inspection, and tolerance stack-up analysis for mechanical assemblies and tooling.
- Hands-on experience assembling, measuring, and troubleshooting mechanical equipment and tooling, with the ability to use test data to identify root causes and validate design improvements.
Preferred Qualifications: - Background in precision opto-mechanical design and optoelectronic packaging.
- Hands-on work with electro-optic test equipment and procedures.
- Participation in New Product Introduction (NPI) and product qualification practices.
- Prior use of ANSYS or other finite element software.
- Background in designing or integrating automated manufacturing equipment, including precision motion systems, sensors, actuators, and pneumatic components, in collaboration with electrical and controls engineers
- Background in fiber or solid-state laser systems, precision optical alignment, or laser assembly and test automation, including familiarity with applicable laser safety practices.
- Familiarity with robotics, machine vision, or automated data acquisition used in precision assembly, alignment, and testing.
Work Environment: - Works in office, laboratory, and manufacturing settings, combining computer-based design and analysis with hands-on equipment assembly, inspection, and testing.
- Works around laser systems, electrical test equipment, and mechanical assemblies; follows applicable safety procedures and uses required personal protective equipment.
- Performs tasks involving sitting, standing, walking, reaching, and positioning components and tooling during assembly and equipment evaluation.
- Performs precision assembly and inspection tasks using small components, hand tools, microscopes, and test equipment.
- Performs the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
nLIGHT is proud to offer comprehensive COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Starting salary level is based on qualifications:
- Mechanical Engineer I: $89,000 - $100,000 annually
- Mechanical Engineer II: $95,000 - $115,000 annually
Other Compensation and Benefits
- Target Cash Bonus of 5% of earned wages, [depending on level]
- Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants
- 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
- 10 paid Holidays
- Eligible for health benefits on the 1st day of the month after your start date
- Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits, including prescription and orthodontia with employee-paid premiums as low as $40.00 per pay period
- Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
- Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Aflac Supplemental Insurance
- Paid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty
- Tuition Assistance Program
- Pet Insurance
nLIGHT is subject to US Export Control regulations. To qualify for this position, you must be a US Person (that is, a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual granted asylum or refugee status).
