Principal Laser Engineer

A Day in Your Life at MKS:

Spectra‑Physics is the Lasers Business Unit of MKS Instruments. We have an excellent opportunity for someone like you to join our innovative product development engineering team as a Principal Laser Engineer. In this position, you will build prototypes and contribute to the optical design of free‑space and fiber‑based laser systems. You will work interactively within a project team and use your excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with cross‑functional team members.

We push the boundaries of technology to develop a wide range of nanosecond, picosecond, and femtosecond lasers that address the needs of Industrial, Scientific, and Life and Health markets. If you have a passion for working with cutting‑edge laser systems, this is the role for you.

• Serve as a technical expert for the optical design of fiber‑based and free‑space lasers. Execute experiments to test conceptual designs and to document optical system performance. Use software computational tools to aid in the design and analysis of optical system performance. Work with mechanical and electrical engineers to assist in evaluating and documenting opto‑mechanical and electro‑optical specifications.
• Define test strategies, build, test and document system prototypes: measure optical and opto‑electronic parameters and evaluate results, create test reports and generate design documentation including optical diagrams, drawings, and optical component specifications.
• Work with optical component vendors for component procurement, and to complete performance and reliability evaluation.
• Work in a multi‑disciplinary team and interact with Electrical, Mechanical, Software and Manufacturing Engineers on new product development and to transfer the design to production.
• Guide and train technicians on newly developed processes and optical measurement techniques.

• MS degree in Engineering, Physics, Material Science, Chemistry, or a related field required and 5+ years industry experience or PhD and 2+ years industry experience.
• Hands‑on experience with passive and active fibers and fiber‑optic components, including fiber preparation and splicing and component characterization.
• In‑depth knowledge of various fiber types, their advantages and disadvantages, and typical use. Experience in making proper fiber and fiber component selection for different applications.
• Hands‑on experience in free‑space beam and optical cavity alignment.
• Experience with Gaussian beam propagation software tools.
• Familiar with optical non‑linear processes (SHG, SPM, SBS, Raman etc.).
• Familiar with sub‑picosecond pulse generation, measurement and characterization.
• Hands‑on experience with operating and characterizing acousto‑optic and electro‑optic modulators and pulse selectors.
• Proven ability to independently define opto‑electronic measurement procedures, set up and perform the measurements, evaluate the results and clearly communicate the conclusions to peer engineers and management.
• Proven experience with optical measurement instruments: beam parameters analyzers, power meters, auto‑correlators, fast opto‑electronics, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers and spectrometers, scanning interferometers.

• Experience in troubleshooting and failure analysis of optical modules and systems.
• Experience with high power pulsed fiber laser design and testing.
• Experience with harmonic generation and nonlinear crystals (SHG, THG, SFG).
• Experience with external‑cavity tunable diode lasers.
• Hands‑on experience with ultra‑fast laser development and relevant technologies (mode‑locking, CPA, etc.) and characterization (auto‑correlator/FROG).
• Ability to model basic harmonic generation processes using SNLO, Matlab and/or other suitable software tools.
• Familiarity with ray‑tracing analysis software (ZEMAX, FRED and/or others).
• Experience with automated measurement and control methods (Python).

We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position at this time.

Salary Pay Range: $139,000…