{"id":383799,"url":"https://alion.io/job/mks-instruments-principal-optical-engineer","title":"Principal Optical Engineer","company":{"id":1042866,"name":"MKS","domain":"mks.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/mks-6","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":84,"open_postings":26,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.654,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":36,"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"}},"role":"Semiconductors","role_family":"Semiconductors","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Irvine, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":175000,"max":195000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":195000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-03-23T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-03-23","last_verified_at":"2026-11-01T03:29:53Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":223,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":222},"description":"A Day in Your Life at MKS:\nMKS Systems Irvine is growing very rapidly with significant strategic investments in the development and fabrication of cutting-edge, high precision optics, opto-mechanical assemblies, fiber optic module assemblies, and systems. To manufacture these products, Systems Irvine is seeking individuals like you to join our team as Principal Optical Engineer.\nIn this position, you will provide technical leadership in the design and development of complex optical systems by coordinating cross-functional development activities. If you have a passion for working with cutting-edge technology, this is the role for you!\nYou Will Make an Impact By:\nArchitect and design complex optical paths and hybrid systems. Utilize industry-standard modeling software to simulate beam propagation in both free-space and fiber-optic configurations.\n\nDefine and select active and passive optical components, including laser diodes, AOMs, WDMs, isolators, etc. Manage integration of these components with mechanical and electronic control systems.\n\nLead and work the physical realization of designs on the optical bench. Build, align, and test optical components and systems, including precision alignment and fiber splicing, to verify performance and quality.\n\nCollaborate with cross-functional teams and interact with suppliers to transition prototypes into scalable, manufacturable products.\n\nSkills You Bring:\nBachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or equivalent; graduate coursework preferred.\n\n8+ years of related industry experience in optical product design and development\n\nStrong foundation in optics and photonics, including beam propagation, fiber-optic principles, and laser fundamentals, with proficiency in optical design and analysis using Zemax or equivalent tools.\n\nSkill in functional demonstration and prototyping, including rapid optical setup, iterative design refinement, troubleshooting, and validation.\n\nHands-on experience with optical alignment, optical metrology, and common test instruments (beam profilers, OSAs, power meters, interferometers).\n\nFamiliarity with systems integration and working knowledge of mechanical tolerances, opto-mechanical hardware, and electronic control interfaces.\n\nEffective communication skills for working cross-functionally and documenting technical work.\n\nPhysical Demands and Working Conditions:\nOffice and laboratory work is required, with regular work in a cleanroom environment. Wearing of Personal Protective Equipment as well as cleanroom garb is required\n\nMust be able to lift, move, or position equipment up to 35 pounds while working in a laboratory environment\n\nNoise level in the laboratory environment can temporarily be elevated, but does not typically require PPE\n\nTravel Requirements: Up to 5-15% Travel is required, including international travel\n\nWe are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.\nCompensation and Benefits:\nSalary Pay Range: $175,000 - $195,000 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.\nBonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].\nBenefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.].\nMKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details.\nMKS will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers.\nGlobally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. persons.” “U.S. persons” are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.\nMKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies.MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.\nMKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: .\nIf applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role","description_format":"text","description_chars":6063,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Health insurance","Insurance coverage","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Lasers & Laser Systems","Chemical Manufacturing","Semiconductor Equipment"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-05T22:15:59Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":7,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.248,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":222,"expected_fill_days":36,"reasons":["conf:4","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":195000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/mks-instruments-principal-optical-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/mks-instruments-principal-optical-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-01T05:07:06Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":7939,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-02T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1042866},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1042866"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fmks-instruments-principal-optical-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fmks-instruments-principal-optical-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fmks-instruments-principal-optical-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/mks-instruments-principal-optical-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fmks-instruments-principal-optical-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":383799}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"mks.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":383799},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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