Principal Optical/Laser Manufacturing Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 24, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 9, 2026.
ENABLE your future through light.
Excelitas is a global technology leader with more than 7,500 employees, focused on delivering market-driven solutions to fulfill the illumination, optical, detection and imaging needs of OEMs and end-users across the biomedical, semiconductor, industrial, consumer products, scientific, security, defense and aerospace sectors.
ENGAGE with us today and make your contribution to the future! Join the team that leading technology companies turn to for cutting-edge photonic innovation. At Excelitas Technologies you are how we EXCEL.
Our facility in Billerica, Massachusetts is located in the metropolitan Boston area and specializes in the design and manufacturing of advanced photonics products based on MEMS and other micro-scale optical devices. Our unique technology enables the highest system performance in the most compact and cost-effective formats in a variety of applications.
This site's Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) products are laser-based imaging tools that have transformed ophthalmic care and made notable impacts on patients in cardiology, dermatology, oncology, gastroenterology, and other medical specialties.
We are presently seeking a Principal Optical/Laser Manufacturing Engineer that will make vital contributions to new technology and product development for our growing range of cutting-edge optical engine products. This individual will serve as the technical authority for our tunable laser module and engine manufacturing processes, which utilize proprietary MEMS tunable optical devices and micro-optics. Working closely with Quality Engineering, R&D, Manufacturing Engineering, and Manufacturing, this role includes data tracking & analysis to drive continuous improvements to our manufacturing processes and capabilities, while mentoring engineers and acting as the escalation point for the most complex technical challenges.
Main Responsibilities:
- Determine and specify the materials, equipment, and tooling required to meet manufacturing goals and product specifications.
- Drive efficiency across the manufacturing organization by directing analysis of equipment layout, workflow, assembly methods, and workforce utilization.
- Own the development of work instructions and training programs and mentor engineers and direct labor personnel on manufacturing processes.
- Lead yield and performance improvement initiatives for modules, systems and subcomponents, identifying systemic issues across product families rather than isolated cases.
- Serve as the technical authority for root cause analysis on the most complex manufacturing process issues and establish process controls that scale across product lines.
- Lead failure analysis efforts for optical modules, systems and subcomponents, including complex or first-of-kind failure modes.
- Implement and support effective SPC and continuous improvement programs.
- Lead multiple concurrent projects and represent manufacturing engineering in cross-functional and leadership discussions to ensure commitments are met and quality is maintained.
- Champion a safe work environment, proactively identifying and addressing risks before they become incidents.
- Partner with Operations at a strategic level to support production goals and long-term capacity planning.
- Support the transfer of new products from R&D to manufacturing, including harmonization strategy with previously released products across the site or business unit.
- Provide technical mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers and act as a subject matter expert resource across the organization.
Requirements:
- BS in Mechanical, Electrical, Optical, or Laser Engineering; advanced degree (MS or PhD) preferred and may substitute for experience.
- 10+ years of manufacturing engineering experience.
- Strong working knowledge of optics, OCT or swept-source lasers, MEMS devices, or optoelectronic device processing required.
- Hands-on skills with electro-optical equipment such as optical spectrum analyzers (OSAs), oscilloscopes, and power meters preferred.
- Solid problem-solving skills based on design of experiments, characterization, and data analysis methodologies to drive process decisions.
- Proven experience mentoring or leading engineers and cross-functional technical teams, with or without direct reports.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to self-direct, prioritize across multiple programs, and work with minimal supervision.
- Familiarity with software-based testing such as VB.NET and LabVIEW is a plus.
- Knowledge of Power BI is a plus.
- Six Sigma/Lean Manufacturing experience is a plus.
Compensation:
- Salary Range: $175,000 - $196,000 (depending on experience)
This position requires the use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
Visa sponsorship is not available for any position at Excelitas
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Minorities/Females/Disability/Veteran/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation
Excelitas is seeking leaders and innovators to join our global team!
Visit: https://jobs.excelitas.com/