Senior Research And Development Engineer

Job Description

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