Principal Engineer

About the Organization Founded in 1977, Surface Optics Corporation is a leader in advanced imaging systems, scientific instruments, and thin-film vacuum coatings for surface engineering. We serve aerospace, defense, semiconductor, automotive, and energy customers worldwide with innovative solutions including hyperspectral imagers, reflectometers, and precision optical measurement instruments. With over 45 years of experience, we're pioneering cutting-edge technology for the world's most demanding applications.

Summary
:
The Principal Engineer will play a key role in driving the technical direction of complex engineering projects, utilizing deep expertise to solve challenging technical problems, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality solutions. This is the most senior-level role, and will be expected to lead engineering initiatives, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate across teams to deliver innovative solutions.

• Take ownership of engineering projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery, resource allocation, and meeting project milestones.
• Provide leadership on engineering projects, guiding and influencing technical decisions, and ensuring the alignment of solutions with overall business objectives.
• Drive the development and implementation of best practices, methodologies, and tools to ensure efficient and high-quality engineering solutions.
• Utilize advanced engineering knowledge to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues, while providing innovative solutions to engineering challenges.
• Work closely with the CTO, engineering teams, and other departments to ensure the smooth integration of engineering designs and products into the overall company strategy.
• Act as a mentor to engineers, providing guidance and support in their professional growth and development.
• Continuously explore new technologies, tools, and techniques to enhance SOC’s engineering capabilities, helping to drive the company's technological advancement.
• Ensure that all engineering processes, design decisions, and project developments are well-documented. Provide regular reports and updates to management on project status and technical challenges.
• Mandatory attendance for all-hands SOC safety, security and HR meetings.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Ability to comprehend and apply principles of advanced calculus, modern algebra, and advanced statistical theory. Ability to work with concepts such as limits, rings, quadratic and differential equations, and proofs of theorems.

Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs,musical notes, etc.,) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables

To perform this job…