Senior Optomechanical Packaging Engineer

A Day in Your Life at MKS:
As an Optomechanical Packaging Engineer at MKS, you will lead the development of advanced optical and optoelectronic packaging solutions for next-generation photonics and optical communication test systems. The successful candidate will be responsible for the design, integration, automation, and qualification of precision optical assemblies, including photodiodes, fiber-coupled devices, optical receivers, laser sources, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Emphasis will be placed on active alignment processes, automated assembly equipment, motion control systems, optical packaging architectures, and long-term product reliability.

This role requires a hands-on engineer capable of working across optics, mechanics, electronics, manufacturing, automation, and reliability disciplines to transform laboratory prototypes into scalable production products.

• Design precision optomechanical assemblies for fiber optics, photodiodes, laser sources, and photonic integrated circuits.
• Develop packaging architectures and optics that optimize optical performance, mechanical stability, thermal performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost.
• Define optical and mechanical tolerances and alignment budgets.
• Develop packaging solutions for fiber-to-chip coupling, fiber-to-photodiode coupling, free-space optical systems, laser and detector integration, and multi-channel optical assemblies.
• Work closely with optical, electrical, and manufacturing engineers throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead development of active alignment processes for optical and optoelectronic assemblies.
• Select and integrate piezo stages, nanopositioners, linear motors, servo systems, and precision encoders.
• Optimize system accuracy, repeatability, throughput, and robustness.
• Support integration of optical metrology and machine vision feedback systems.
• Perform failure mode and root-cause analysis.
• Define qualification plans including thermal cycling, temperature and humidity testing, mechanical shock and vibration, life testing, and accelerated aging.
• Support regulatory and customer qualification activities.
• Generate work instructions, assembly procedures, and production documentation.
• Support finite element and multi-physics simulations as required.
• Model packaging-induced optical performance impacts.
• Correlate simulation results with experimental measurements.

Up to 10% of Travel is required.

• BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience developing optomechanical or photonic products.
• Strong experience in precision optomechanical design.
• Hands-on experience with active optical alignment processes.
• Experience developing automated manufacturing or assembly systems.
• Knowledge of motion control systems and precision positioning technologies.
• Experience with tolerance analysis and mechanical design.
• Strong understanding of optical packaging challenges and solutions.
• Experience supporting products from concept through production release.
• Strong laboratory troubleshooting and debugging skills.

• Experience packaging photodiodes, lasers, optical receivers, optical transceivers, or photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
• Experience with optical communication products.
• Experience developing automated active alignment stations.
• Experience with machine vision systems and robotic assembly equipment.
• Familiarity with fiber-attach and photonic packaging processes.
• Experience with epoxy, solder, eutectic, or laser-welding attachment methods.
  
  Experience with reliability qualification standards such as Telcordia, MIL, or IEC.
• Familiarity with statistical process control and yield analysis.
• Exper…