{"id":3772165,"url":"https://alion.io/job/thorlabs-mechanical-engineer-i-2","title":"Mechanical Engineer I","company":{"id":6560,"name":"Thorlabs","domain":"thorlabs.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/thorlabs","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":80,"open_postings":21,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.762,"repost_share":0.048,"time_to_fill_p50_days":32,"computed_at":"2026-11-08T05:47:12Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Ann Arbor, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":84000,"max":100000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":100000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-04T21:54:29Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-04","last_verified_at":"2026-11-08T06:08:32Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"description":"At Thorlabs, we design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabs contributes to cutting-edge research and real-world innovation.\nWhether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. We know every employee brings unique talents and perspectives that fuel our success, and we seek driven individuals who are excited to make an impact in a fun, fast-moving culture.\nThorlabs Ultrafast Optoelectronics (UFO) in Ann Arbor is a division of Thorlabs chartered to develop high speed photonics components and instrumentation. Mechanical Engineers conceptualize, design, and test optomechanical solutions for components and instrumentation. Projects frequently require consideration of hermetic, thermal, and stress properties. Activities include documentation, vendor management, prototyping, transfer to manufacturing, troubleshooting and being committed to customer satisfaction.\nAssist in development of optomechanical solutions for components and instrumentation under supervision\nCreate documentation for parts in advanced optomechanical solutions while learning documentation best practices\nPerform testing and analysis of components and instrumentation under supervision per documented validation plans\nAssist in the creation of the required documentation of components and instrumentation\nAssist in development of fixturing solutions for development and production\nCreate documentation for parts in fixturing solutions while learning documentation best practices\nReport development status to supervisor on a regular basis\nParticipate in design, model, and drawing reviews\nCoordinate cross-departments to ensure mechanical designs meet optical and electrical requirements\nRecommend innovations and improved methods, tools, and processes\nAssist with project planning, estimation, and tracking\nAssist with sourcing and qualification of parts and vendors\nMaintain mechanical design documentation\nCreate assembly and test instructions\nAssist and train the production department in troubleshooting technical issues\nRequirements\nExperience:\nEntry Level to 4 years of experience in optomechanical design\nEducation:\nMinimum of a BS or higher level of education in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or related field required\nSpecialized Knowledge and Skills:\nMust have working knowledge of SolidWorks or similar CAD software\nMust have exposure to PLM software for managing part documentation; willingness to develop proficiency\nMust have working knowledge of SolidWorks Simulation or similar FEA software\nKnowledge of optomechanical solutions for the photonics market preferred\nFamiliarity with statistical data analysis techniques and strong problem-solving abilities\nCandidate must be detail oriented, highly organized, and able to document work\nCandidate must have excellent written and oral communication skills\nComfortable in a start-up type environment; self-motivated individual\nPerform other related duties and assignments as required\nAlthough the location of the position is in Ann Arbor, Michigan from time to time it may be required to undertake duties at other Thorlabs locations\nProficiency in Microsoft Office\nDemonstrated ability of innovative design\nAdept at following and developing processes\nThe estimated pay range for this role is $84,000 - $ 100,000 annually\nThorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identify or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.\nBenefits\n Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4382,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Life insurance","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Lasers & Laser Systems","Test & Measurement Instruments","Optics & Photonic Components"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-04T21:54:29Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"adverts_offering_sponsorship_24m":0,"sanctioned_now":false,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 6","filings_12m":6,"filings_prev_12m":8,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":82500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-11-07T07:57:00+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":3,"expected_fill_days":32,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-11-08T05:47:12Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":100000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/thorlabs-mechanical-engineer-i-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/thorlabs-mechanical-engineer-i-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-08T08:44:27Z","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":18959,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-09T00:00:00Z"}},"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":6560},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=6560"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fthorlabs-mechanical-engineer-i-2"},{"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%2Fthorlabs-mechanical-engineer-i-2"},{"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%2Fthorlabs-mechanical-engineer-i-2"},{"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/thorlabs-mechanical-engineer-i-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fthorlabs-mechanical-engineer-i-2"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3772165}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"thorlabs.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3772165},"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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