Principal Laser Engineer

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 components 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‑optics components, including fiber preparation and splicing and components 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…