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.