System Architect-Interferometric Technologies

System Architect– Interferometric Technologies

The System Architect– Interferometric Technologies is a technical leader and system architect for QED Technologies' Interferometer based product line (e.g. ASI, QIS, etc.). They are responsible for the technical integrity of metrology-oriented products across the full lifecycle—from early concept exploration and architecture through development, release, sustainment, and end-of-life planning. This role exercises strong technical influence over roadmap execution and platform decisions alongside system requirements development, and cross-functional technical alignment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Product Line Technical Leadership
• Serve as the technical authority for Interferometry based products, ensuring coherent architecture, sound engineering decisions, and consistent product line strategy.
• Act as Project Technical Lead for Interferometry oriented programs, coordinating technical execution across engineering disciplines.
• Drive technical trade studies and decision records, balancing performance, quality and cost.
• Requirements Development & Management
• Lead customer/product/technical requirements development, translating voice-of-customer inputs into clear, verifiable requirements.
• Create and maintain structure, quality, traceability, and change control of system requirements.
• Facilitate requirements reviews with stakeholders; ensure requirements are verifiable and aligned with product intent, risks, and constraints.
• System Architecture & Concept Development
• Lead project concept development: define system architectures to fulfill established requirements.
• Execute product development plan to manage risk against requirements.
• Systems Engineering Execution
• Identify technical risks early and drive mitigation plans through architecture choices, prototypes, analysis, and verification planning.
• Lead functional decomposition, allocate requirements to subsystems, and define interface control requirements.
• Devise innovative processes to meet challenging requirements.
• Develop and maintain verification & validation strategy, including system level acceptance criteria and test plans.
• Product Lifecycle Support (Release, Sustainment & EOL)
• Work alongside manufacturing engineering, operations, sales and marketing to release new products to market.
• Provide ongoing support for released Interferometry based products: cost-down initiatives, obsolescence planning, corrective actions, preventative actions and continuous improvement.
• Partner with manufacturing, service, and quality teams to ensure product changes are robust, documented, and effectively implemented.
• Partner with sales and marketing to support end-of-life planning: transition strategies, documentation completeness, and customer commitments.

Skills & Competencies:

Deep and holistic understanding of interferometry and other metrology technologies is required. With experience in:

• Lens design
• Interferometry
• Opto-mechanics
• Basic coding (e.g. scripting in Python, Matlab, etc.)
• Data analysis

Proficient in systems engineering and able to drive clarity from ambiguity:

• Disciplined and thoughtful approach to system requirements development
• Comfortable facilitating cross-functional technical reviews and negotiations
• Practical, customer-focused engineering mindset (robust, serviceable solutions) leveraging feedback for continuous improvement
• Effective cross-functional leadership bridging Engineering, R&D, and Operations
• Strong communication and organizational skills for documentation, project support and collaboration
• Strategic supplier and partner management to align resources and ensure product success
• Continuous improvement mindset leveraging post-launch feedback for ongoing refinements

Reporting & Working Relationships:

Reports to the Systems Engineering Manager

Serves as a primary internal technical point of contact for Interferometry based systems within defined purview (e.g. ASI, QIS, and future systems)

Works closely with Project Management, Engineering, Service, Quality, and Applications

Serves as a technical interface to customers and design partners as appropriate in execution of key responsibilities

Tools:

Optical design in Zemax, or similar specialized engineering software

Requirements management in Jama Connect

Cross-functional engineering tools as needed (Git, JIRA, etc.)