Optical Manufacturing Engineer

Position Overview (Summary/Objective):

The Optical Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for leading production efforts for advanced and exciting optical products that have significant direct impacts on national security. In this role, the engineer may lead or collaborate within IPTs to define optical systems and subassemblies from inception through final delivery. The successful candidate will be a passionate subject matter expert in optical manufacturing and metrology that continues to grow with technological advancements, and that mentors the junior engineers and technicians that he/she works with.

 

Responsibilities:

• Lead or work within IPT as SME in optical manufacturing to support development and manufacturing of optical components and subassemblies from concept through delivery.
• Develop requirements of optical components and subassemblies to meet the needs of our customers.
• Personally develop documentation that guides manufacturing processes, and review/advise on the documentation written by others inside and outside the department
• Conceptually support flight and manufacturing tooling design and tolerancing
  • You will not need to do your own tooling design in a CAD software, but assist other engineers in designing and tolerancing your concepts
• Lead RFI/RFQ/RFP efforts from an Optical Fabrication standpoint by evaluating current production capabilities to develop a proposed fabrication plan and estimate
• Lead and advise on capital expenditure justifications and procurement
• Lead and advise on Internal Research and Development projects
• Lead and advise on process improvement and root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Support material suppliers in development of their optical material blanks
• Interface with customers
• It is imperative that the candidate is a good communicator that mentors junior employees throughout each of these responsibilities
• Travel < 10%

 

Basic Qualifications:

• Undergraduate and advanced degrees in Mechanical Engineer, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in optical manufacturing, metrology and assembly of very high precision optical components
• Hands on experience fabricating and leading the fabrication of optics from a variety of different material types (e.g. glasses, crystals, and ceramics)
• Deep understanding of optical materials, including blank manufacturing processes at material providers, mechanical, structural, optical and thermal properties, and the effects of those properties on system performance.
• 5+ years experience each with:
  • CNC machining of optical substrates including surface generation, shaping, and lightweighting
  • Conventional optical fabrication methods including overarm spindles, continuous grinders and polishers, and twin-sided grinding and polishing
  • Deterministic optical fabrication, dwell-time algorithms, deterministic optimizations, and commercially available deterministic grinding and polishing platforms
  • CMM measurements on optical components to support optical figuring, as well as optical assembly and integration
  • Interferometry of flats, spheres and aspheres
• 2+ years experience each for manufacturing and metrology of 1g and 0g optics

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in optical manufacturing, metrology and assembly of optics 1 meter and larger that require extreme precision wavefronts.
• SME knowledge of manufacturing and measuring 1g and 0g large optics

 

Pay Range:  140-170K

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

 

Location:

The position is located onsite at our facility in Danbury, CT. Located in beautiful Fairfield County, Danbury offers a diverse economy, wonderful parks, cultural attractions, an impressive mix of private and public educational institutions and a vibrant arts scene. Our facility is nestled among a remarkable selection of communities to call home all with varying price points to fit many different budgets. We’re close to New York City, Boston, and other major cities – great for day trips and weekend getaways. Our lovely seasons along with award-winning institutions, colleges, cultural events, and a genuine sense of community brings a diverse population to the beautiful state of Connecticut!

 

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive medical/vision/dental insurance packages.
• Company contributions to qualified HSA accounts.
• 401k retirement plan with industry leading company contributions.
• 3 weeks of vacation accrual per year plus time off for sick leave and unscheduled life events.
• 13 paid holidays.
• Continuing education benefit up to $25,000/year for approved programs.
• Annual bonus program based on company and employee performance.
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance.
• 4 weeks paid Parental Leave.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).

 

EHS/Environmental Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to communicate, listen to, and interpret instructions, occasionally operate tools and/or machinery with hands and arms and remain stationary for extended periods of the time. The employee will use protective equipment when working with chemicals, move between workstations, reach, and replace equipment, and move items weighing up to 25 lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Applicants are invited to apply for a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job. To apply, send a request to staffing@arka.org or contact 203-797-5000 and press 2 for Human Resources.

 

ITC & Security Clearance Requirements:

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Security Clearance. The form contained in this link will provide insight into the information the government requests as part of the clearance process. https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf86.pdf.

Due to contract requirements, US citizenship is required. Additionally, if you are a dual citizen (a citizen of the US and another country), the Company must obtain approval for you to have access to the information required for this position. You will not be able to begin employment until such approval is obtained and this may take several months.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

 

Employment with any of the ARKA Group companies in the US is contingent upon satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements to include a credit check, background check and drug screen.

 

ARKA Group L.P. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other federally protected class