This full-time position is based in Emeryville within the Process Engineering organization.
About The Role:We are seeking a senior engineer to help shape the future of our laser-based manufacturing processes from development to scaled production. This role operates at the nexus of process, device design, AI, software and hardware - bridging advanced micromachining, materials physics, and optical systems. You will drive forward laser process development to deliver rapid and effective results across cutting, milling, selective ablation, and welding processes using a suite of in-house-built pulsed-laser machines. You will champion innovative metrology and in-situ sensing to analyze laser-material interactions and feed AI-enabled process optimization. You'll also solve complex toolpath problems using commercial and custom CAD/CAM software.
Just as important as your technical depth is how you work: you identify the gaps and problems and run toward them, you build scalable systems as you go rather than executing a known playbook, and you take strong ownership from development through hand-off to production. The ideal candidate is capable of carrying a processing technology through its entire life cycle - from first principles, to experimentation and prototyping, to a robust, qualified process running at scale on our digital, autonomous manufacturing platform
What You'll Do:- Develop, optimize, and scale pulsed-laser manufacturing processes, including cutting, milling, selective ablation, and welding.
- Design and analyze experiments to understand laser-material interactions across metals, ceramics, and polymers - clearly defining goals, hypotheses, inputs, and outputs - and document and standardize processes to ensure reproducibility.
- Manage calibration and verification systems across many machines, build and execute qualification/validation protocols, establish process monitoring and control, and train and hand off to production personnel.
- Troubleshoot equipment, materials, and process issues, driving disciplined root-cause analysis to durable resolution.
- Develop and refine tool paths and machine programs using CAD/CAM and G-code to maximize precision and efficiency.
- Work with laser system design engineers to translate process learnings into system usability, performance, and features.
- Partner with Design, AI, Hardware/Software, and Manufacturing teams while mentoring engineers and technicians to champion best practices and process quality.
- Ensure safe operation of high-power laser systems, adhering to industry standards and internal safety protocols.
What You'll Need:- A master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or a related field, and 6-10 years of relevant industry experience.
- Strong foundational knowledge of laser-material interaction and the physics of heating, melting, and ablation, along with heat transfer and thermomechanical phenomena.
- Hands-on experience with laser processing and parameter development (pulsed-laser experience ideal but not required); knowledge of laser and optical system design and performance.
- Experience scaling processes and handing off to production.
- Proficiency in DOE and statistical analysis.
- Experience with Python and ability to leverage AI tools for programming.
- Experience with metrology tools such as optical imaging and profilometry, CMM, SEM/EDS/EBSD, XRF, and X-ray CT.
- Excellent verbal and written communication with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong ownership and accountability; adaptable to changing priorities and comfortable managing many concurrent tasks.
- A collaborative attitude and team-focused mindset.
The compensation for this position also includes equity and benefits.
Salary Range
$220,000-$240,000 USD
