Senior R&D Engineer

Job Description Job Description For more than 30 years, Opto-Alignment Technology, Inc. (OATi) has designed and built precision optical alignment and metrology equipment, including our LASTM lens alignment systems and QuickPROTM metrology instruments. We are a small, hands-on engineering team. Our R&D engineers take new instruments from concept through modeling, prototyping, and release to production. We are looking for a Senior R&D Engineer to develop our next generation of metrology and alignment systems, taking new products from early concept through working prototype to release. This is a full-time, on-site position at our Charlotte, NC headquarter. This role calls for a strong engineering foundation and hands-on lab work: building and testing prototype hardware, setting up and characterizing motion systems, and working directly with our production team to turn designs into instruments. Responsibilities ▪ Develop new metrology and alignment systems, from requirements and concept through prototype, test, and release ▪ Build and test prototypes in the lab, and integrate sensors with automated positioning systems ▪ Set up, tune, and characterize precision motion systems (linear and rotary stages, air bearings, encoders, and controllers), including accuracy, repeatability, and error-budget analysis ▪ Collect and analyze measurement data in MATLAB, and build reusable analysis tools ▪ Model and simulate system performance in MATLAB/Simulink and Simscape (including Simscape Multibody), and check models against measured hardware behavior ▪ Design precision mechanisms and fixtures using sound principles (exact constraint, stiffness, thermal stability) ▪ Support product design in SolidWorks, including parts, assemblies, drawings, and engineering changes under our ISO 9001 design control process ▪ Work with production, quality, and customers to turn requirements into working instruments Required Qualifications ▪ B.S. in Mechanical, Optical, or Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field ▪ At least 5 years of industry or applied-research experience developing precision electromechanical or optomechanical systems ▪ Proficiency in MATLAB for data analysis and scripting ▪ Experience modeling dynamic systems in Simulink/Simscape ▪ Proficiency in SolidWorks (parts, assemblies, and detailed drawings with GD&T) ▪ Hands-on experience setting up and characterizing motion systems ▪ Strong grounding in data analysis, statistics, and measurement uncertainty ▪ Clear communicator who works well independently and in a small team ▪ Must be a U.S. Person due to ITAR requirements Preferred Qualifications ▪ M.S. in a related field ▪ Experience with Simscape Multibody and with modeling air bearings or precision stages ▪ Background in optical testing, alignment, surface metrology, or interferometry ▪ Experience programming motion controllers ▪ Experience working under a formal design control or ISO 9001 quality system \nCompany Description Opto Alignment, located in Charlotte NC, is a leading manufacturer of ultra precision alignment, assembly and inspection optical systems. Our flagship product, the Laser Alignment & Assembly Station (LAS), employs latest generation illumination and vision technologies, along with computer automation, to achieve sub-micron centering precision. For more than 30 years, Opto Alignment is a recognized leader in the field of optical instrumentation where we offer complete solutions for opto-mechanical design, ultra precision machining, system manufacturing and assembly services ranging from the visible to the infrared spectrum. Company Description Opto Alignment, located in Charlotte NC, is a leading manufacturer of ultra precision alignment, assembly and inspection optical systems. Our flagship product, the Laser Alignment & Assembly Station (LAS), employs latest generation illumination and vision technologies, along with computer automation, to achieve sub-micron centering precision. For more than 30 years, Opto Alignment is a recognized leader in the field of optical instrumentation where we offer complete solutions for opto-mechanical design, ultra precision machining, system manufacturing and assembly services ranging from the visible to the infrared spectrum.