Shift:The regular hours for this position are day shift.
Job Description:FormFactor is seeking a
Sr Principal Optical Systems Engineer to lead the architecture, design, modeling, integration, characterization, and validation of advanced optical microsystems and photonic test solutions. This senior individual-contributor role owns complex development efforts from concept through production release and applies deep expertise in optics and photonics to resolve multidisciplinary technical challenges.
The successful candidate will provide technical leadership across engineering, manufacturing, quality, software, and commercial teams; translate customer and product needs into system requirements; and establish robust design, simulation, test, and validation methods. This role influences technical roadmaps and engineering practices through expertise and collaboration rather than direct people management.
Key Responsibilities:Optical System Architecture and Product Development
- Lead development of advanced optical systems, micro-optical components, and photonic test solutions from concept through commercial deployment.
- Translate customer, product, and application requirements into system architectures, performance specifications, interfaces, and verification plans.
- Own system-level optical performance and manufacturability, reliability, cost, schedule, and scalability of optical subsystems.
- Drive technical decisions for complex programs with significant ambiguity, multidisciplinary dependencies, and business impact. Collaborate closely with Mechanical and Controls engineering teams to integrate optical components into precision alignment systems.
- Select and characterize subsystem optical components including fiber array units (FAUs) and optical connectors.
- Apply structured design reviews, risk assessment, and requirements traceability throughout the product lifecycle.
Simulation, Modeling, and Analysis
- Develop and validate advanced optical models using wave optics, diffraction, beam propagation, and photonic-device simulation methods.
- Perform tolerance analysis, sensitivity analysis, error budgeting, and performance prediction for complete optical systems.
- Correlate simulation results with laboratory measurements, production data, and field performance.
Test, Metrology, and Automation- Lead development of optical characterization techniques, measurement methods, fixtures, and system-level verification strategies.
- Define automated test and data-acquisition approaches supporting development, manufacturing, and quality assurance.
- Integrate advanced metrology, image processing, and in-line monitoring solutions for process control and performance verification.
- Use statistical analysis and data-driven methods to improve repeatability, capability, yield, and product performance.
Preferred Qualifications & Experiences: - Degree or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Relevant industry experience in optical-system development, photonics, semiconductor equipment, or test and measurement. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
- Deep expertise in wave optics, optical-system analysis, and photonic devices.
- Demonstrated success leading complex technical projects from concept through implementation or product release.
- Strong experience with optical modeling, simulation, tolerance analysis, and experimental correlation.
- Hands-on experience developing and validating optical test and measurement methodologies.
- Proven ability to independently solve complex, multidisciplinary problems and make sound technical decisions with incomplete information.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex topics to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
- Experience with silicon photonics, photonic integrated circuits, or wafer-level optical testing.
- Demonstrated experience in optical design and analysis using ANSYS Zemax.
- Knowledge of advanced microfabrication, additive manufacturing, cleanroom, or semiconductor process technologies.
- Experience with precision optical alignment, opto-mechanical systems, packaging, and system integration.
- Programming and automation experience using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools.
- Familiarity with machine vision, image processing, automated inspection, statistical process control, or design of experiments.
Skills: Beamforming, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design of Experiments (DOE), Error Budgets, MATLAB, Microoptics, National Instruments LabVIEW, Optical Metrology, Optical Systems, Optomechanics, Physical Optics, Precision Alignments, Python (Programming Language), Silicon Photonics, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Technical Leadership, Tolerance Analysis, Water Testing, Wave Propagation, Zemax
Education & Experience: Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience | Required
Pay Range:$115,800.00 - $151,935.00
Pay Range Explained:This role in Beaverton, Oregon pays between $115,800.00 and $151,935.00 per year, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations. We offer a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, a 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), and paid time off. You'll also be eligible for quarterly profit-sharing bonuses and flexible spending or savings accounts.
