Location: Austin, TX. Full-time onsite position.
Reports To: VP, Optics
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position OverviewThe OPU relies on a free-space optical (FSO) engine: thousands of parallel beams are collimated, split, relayed, and imaged onto metasurface and detector arrays with micron-scale pixels, then coupled back into fiber. Holding that path together takes sub-micron and microradian mechanical precision, and assembling it repeatably takes in-house metrology and active alignment.
As Staff Optomechanical Design Engineer, you will design the mechanical hardware of these free-space assemblies - from concept and tolerance analysis through prototype build and transfer to manufacturing. You will also support the development of our metrology and active-alignment capability by designing fixtures, mounts, and station hardware, and by feeding as-built data back into the tolerance model. You will work alongside our Principal Optomechanical Design Engineer, who owns the overall optomechanical architecture, and be hands-on in the lab with optical design, photonics, packaging, electrical and manufacturing engineers, and our assembly partners.
Key ResponsibilitiesFree-space optomechanical design- Optomechanical design of the OPU's free-space optical path: collimators, relay and imaging optics, polarization optics.
- Translate optical prescriptions into mechanical architectures - datums, kinematic and flexure mounts, bonded and monolithic sub-assemblies - that hold across temperature and over life.
- Lead optomechanical tolerance analysis (RSS and Monte Carlo) together with optical design.
- Select materials, adhesives and joining processes for thermal and long-term stability; support thermal and structural FEA and STOP analysis to predict alignment drift.
- Produce CAD models, GD&T drawings and assembly documentation; qualify precision optics and mechanical vendors.
Metrology development support- Design the mechanical hardware for metrology stations - fixtures, datums, kinematic part holders and reference artifacts - for interferometry, autocollimation, beam profiling, camera-based spot and pitch measurement, wavefront sensing, and fiber-array and MLA position measurement.
Active-alignment development support- Support development of active-alignment systems and processes.
- Provide mechanical design and integration for multi-axis alignment stations (hexapods, nanopositioners, machine vision) and support their bring-up with alignment and software engineers.
- Build prototypes hands-on in the lab, and provide the fixtures, drawings, and work instructions needed to transfer processes to in-house technicians, assembly partners, and contract manufacturers.
- Drive DFM and DFA so that alignment steps, degrees of freedom, and cycle time are reduced as designs mature from prototype to volume.
Qualification and cross-functional leadership- Represent FSO optomechanics in design reviews; own those sections of the system requirements and communicate status and risk to engineering and executive audiences.
- Mentor engineers and technicians.
Qualifications- M.S. or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, or a B.S. with equivalent industry experience.
- 8+ years of hands-on optomechanical design of precision free-space optical systems, with at least one system taken from concept through qualification and into production.
- Demonstrated design of mounts and sub-assemblies that hold sub-micron and microradian alignment, including kinematic mounts, flexures, and bonded optics.
- Hands-on experience supporting active alignment.
- Hands-on experience with optical metrology and designing fixtures for it.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks or Creo) and GD&T; working knowledge of FEA for thermal and structural analysis.
- Ability to read an optical prescription.
- Sound knowledge of materials, adhesives, and thermal behavior for optomechanical stability.
- Clear communicator who can explain tolerance trade-offs and risk to optical, photonics, manufacturing and executive audiences.
- Comfortable using AI tools in your day-to-day engineering work. We are building AI into how we design, align, and test optics.
Preferred Skills- Experience supporting automated alignment stations (hexapods, piezo nanopositioners, machine vision) and scripting alignment or measurement routines in Python or LabVIEW.
- Experience transferring alignment and assembly processes to contract manufacturers, including writing work instructions and acceptance criteria, and supporting yield ramp.
- Experience in a startup or early-stage hardware team where you build the lab as well as the product.
What We OfferThis is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in an innovative startup redefining the future of AI hardware. Work on game-changing technology at the intersection of photonics and AI as part of a collaborative, brilliant team. You'll contribute to a platform that redefines computational performance and accelerates the future of artificial intelligence. Come help us bring this transformative technology to the world.
BenefitsJoin a team that invests in your future and your well-being. At Neurophos, we offer:
- 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for you and your dependents, plus HSA contributions.
- Unlimited PTO. No rigid vacation banks, just a focus on delivery.
- 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities to ensure our success is your success.
- Full suite of voluntary benefits, including Dental, Vision, Life, Hospital, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance.
- Personalized Benefits. Choose the plans that fit your life and take the cash back for those that don't.
