Senior Laser & Optics Design Engineer - San Diego, CA, United States

Originally posted 8 October 2026 by the employer.

This role focuses on advancing high-power Laser Produced Plasma Extreme Ultraviolet (LPP-EUV) light sources and DUV lasers.

About the role

This role involves translating emerging laser and optical concepts into engineered, testable systems that advance high-power Laser Produced Plasma Extreme Ultraviolet (LPP-EUV) light sources and DUV lasers.

What you'll do

• Execute detailed design, integration, and validation of laser and optical systems, including optical architectures, laser subsystems, diagnostics, controls, and supporting hardware.
• Develop and utilize system models and engineering analyses, including optical, thermal, gain, gas-flow, structural, and performance models to guide design decisions.
• Translate high-level system needs into implementable subsystem requirements, designs, interfaces, and verification criteria.
• Own detailed engineering execution of assigned work packages, including design reviews, test planning, risk management, and issue resolution.
• Design, build, and commission experimental hardware and prototype systems to evaluate new concepts.
• Define and execute verification and validation activities to demonstrate compliance with performance, reliability, manufacturability, and safety requirements.

What you'll need

• Ph.D. with 3+ years of experience or Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience in laser physics, optics, photonics, or electrical engineering.
• Strong foundation in laser and optical system design, integration, alignment, characterization, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to translate high-level, incomplete, and evolving system requirements into practical subsystem designs, interfaces, specifications, and verification plans.
• Firm understanding of optical modeling, particularly Gaussian beam propagation, resonator behavior, and beam delivery.
• Ability to apply optical and multidisciplinary engineering analyses, including thermal, structural, gain, gas-flow, and performance models.
• Working knowledge of optomechanical design principles, including tolerancing, alignment stability, mounting, and sensitivity to thermal and mechanical disturbances.

Nice to have

• Proficiency with Zemax OpticStudio.

Skills: laser system design, optical architectures, Zemax OpticStudio, Gaussian beam propagation, optomechanical design