Senior Vision Systems Engineer

The Senior Photonics and Vision Systems Engineer is a critical hands‑on R&D role responsible for the design, development, integration, and validation of optical, photonic, and imaging subsystems for next‑generation medical devices. This role is central to building and evolving our imaging hardware and low‑level firmware, from early benchtop prototypes through production‑ready designs.

This position is based in our office in Eden Prairie, MN. Relocation assistance and visa sponsorship are not available.

The role will be part of a highly collaborative, fast‑paced R&D environment alongside electrical, mechanical, software, and clinical teams. This position requires deep practical expertise in optics, sensors, and imaging systems, with a strong bias toward experimental work, rapid prototyping, and lab‑based development. The successful candidate will take ownership of setting up, maintaining, and operating an optics and imaging test laboratory, and will play a key role in translating system‑level requirements into robust, manufacturable imaging solutions.

• Lead technical development of optical, photonic, and camera/vision subsystems for medical imaging applications.
• Define imaging system architectures, performance targets, and test methodologies.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and technicians working on imaging hardware, optics, and firmware.
• Guide technology selection decisions for sensors, optics, illumination, and processing pipelines.

• Design, prototype, and integrate imaging systems including sensors, optics, illumination sources, filters, and opto‑mechanical components.
• Review and approve technical designs, specifications, and test plans related to optical and imaging subsystems.
• Evaluate and select image sensors, camera modules, and illumination technologies (LED, laser, NIR, multispectral).
• Develop and refine optical layouts, ray‑based concepts, and system‑level performance trade‑offs.
• Work closely with mechanical engineering to ensure robust opto‑mechanical integration, alignment, and tolerance control.
• Support design for manufacturability, serviceability, and scalability of optical assemblies.

• Develop and support Linux‑based drivers and low‑level firmware for image acquisition, sensor configuration, timing, synchronization, and data transfer.
• Interface imaging hardware with embedded processors, FPGAs, or SoCs using MIPI, SPI, I²C, LVDS, or similar protocols.
• Support bring‑up and debugging of prototype imaging hardware and firmware in the lab.

• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve an optics, radiometry, and imaging test laboratory providing turnkey internal capabilities for development, testing, and safety verification.
• Define and execute optical, radiometric, and image‑quality test plans (e.g., MTF, SNR, uniformity, spectral response, stray light).
• Design and build custom test fixtures, alignment tools, and experimental setups.
• Perform hands‑on testing, troubleshooting, failure analysis, and root cause investigations.
• Analyze test data to guide design iteration and performance optimization.
• Support verification and validation activities to meet product, regulatory, and quality requirements.

• Create and maintain clear documentation of imaging designs, test methods, calibration procedures, and validation results.
• Support regulatory submissions and audits by providing traceable design and test documentation.
• Ensure imaging subsystems comply with relevant medical device standards and guidance (e.g., IEC 62471, IEC 60601, ISO 13485).
• Participate in design reviews, risk analyses, and design history file (DHF) activities.
• Ensure product designs meet safety, EMC, environmental, and industry compliance standards (e.g., UL, CE, FCC, ISO).

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related field (Master’s or PhD preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in optical, photonics, imaging, or vision…