Opto-Mechanical Design engineer - Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Originally posted 28 September 2026 by the employer.

Design precision optical and mechanical subsystems for advanced semiconductor inspection and metrology equipment.

About the role

This role involves developing precision optical and mechanical subsystems for advanced semiconductor inspection and metrology equipment. You will work in a multidisciplinary environment to design, analyze, prototype, integrate, and validate high-performance opto-mechanical systems.

What you'll do

- Design and develop precision opto-mechanical components, assemblies, and subsystems. - Create 3D CAD models, detailed drawings, BOMs, and engineering documentation. - Perform structural, thermal, vibration, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and tolerance analyses to support design decisions. - Support prototype fabrication, assembly, integration, testing, and troubleshooting, documentation release. - Partner with optical engineers to align and integrate lenses, mirrors, lasers, detectors, and other optical components. - Maintain optical alignment and positioning tolerances at the micron level to achieve system performance requirements.

What you'll need

- Strong foundation in mechanical engineering and precision system design. - Experience with CAD and engineering analysis tools. - Expertise in geometric optics, optical alignment, precision engineering, FEA, and opto-mechanical design. - Ability to support the full development cycle from design through testing and integration. - Proficiency with Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent 3D CAD software. - Understanding of tolerance stack-up analysis and precision assembly design.

Nice to have

- Experience with adhesive bonding, soldering, and cleanroom-compatible assemblies. - Working knowledge of geometric optics, ray tracing principles, and optical alignment methodologies. - Familiarity with optical tolerancing and alignment sensitivity. - Experience designing optical mounts and precision opto-mechanical assemblies. - Familiarity with optical and mechanical error sources and alignment stability considerations. - Experience integrating lenses, mirrors, lasers, detectors, and imaging components. - Experience with FEA for structural and thermal analysis. - Familiarity with vibration and modal analysis. - Basic familiarity with CFD and thermal management concepts. - Understanding of kinematic design principles. - Knowledge of thermal expansion effects and thermal stability considerations. - Familiarity with vacuum-compatible and low-outgassing materials. - Familiarity with adhesive bonding techniques for optical assemblies. - Basic soldering and electronic assembly skills for prototyping and integration. - Experience supporting laboratory builds, testing, and system integration. - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field. - Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field. - Experience with use and development of AI tools and agents for design, optimization, and validation.