Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer

Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer

Onsite in Salem, NH

Permanent/ Full-time

The Principal Mechanical Engineer will have deep expertise in precision component design and manufacturing to lead the development of next-generation device-level Electro-Optic (EO) packaging solutions. This senior individual contributor role is critical for driving innovation in high-performance optical communication, sensing, LiDAR, or photonic integrated circuit (PIC) products.

The Principal Mechanical Engineer is a technical leader who excels at designing ultra-precise mechanical components and packaging architectures that meet stringent optical alignment, thermal, mechanical stability, and reliability requirements in compact form factors.

*Preference will be given to candidates currently located within commutable distance to Salem, NH. This full-time, exempt, office-based role will be located in Salem, NH .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and development of precision electro-optic packages, including laser modules, photodetector assemblies, optical transceivers, and photonic subsystems.

• Design high-precision mechanical components (housings, mounts, alignment features, fiber coupling interfaces, and thermal management structures) with sub-micron level accuracy and stability.

• Perform detailed tolerance stack-up analysis, GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing), and mechanical FEA (structural, thermal, vibration, and shock).

• Develop advanced packaging concepts for electro-optic devices, including hermetic and near-hermetic sealing, active/passive optical alignment strategies, and CTE-matched material systems.

• Collaborate closely with Optical Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Process Engineers, and Materials Scientists to optimize opto-mechanical performance and manufacturability.

• Drive design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-assembly (DFA) strategies for precision components using CNC machining, micro-machining, additive manufacturing, laser welding, and other advanced processes.

• Lead failure mode analysis (FMEA), reliability testing, and root-cause investigations for mechanical and packaging-related issues. • Mentor and technically guide junior and senior mechanical engineers on best practices in precision design and electro-optic packaging.

• Work with manufacturing and supply chain teams to transition designs from prototype to high-volume production while maintaining precision and yield targets.

• Stay current with emerging technologies in photonic packaging, micro-optics, and advanced materials.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (PhD preferred).

• 10 years of relevant industry experience in precision mechanical design and manufacturing.

• Strong background in device-level Electro-Optic or Photonic packaging (highly preferred).

• Expert-level proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks, Creo, or NX) and simulation tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, or COMSOL).

• Deep knowledge of precision engineering principles, including: o Sub-micron alignment and positioning mechanisms o Kinematic design and flexure mechanisms o Thermal management in compact optical packages o Material selection for optical stability (low CTE, low outgassing)

• Proven experience with precision manufacturing processes (5-axis CNC, EDM, laser micromachining, diamond turning, etc.).

• Strong understanding of GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and statistical tolerance analysis.

• Experience with fiber systems including fiber-optic modules manufacturing.

• Comfortable with driving vendors to meet design requirements.

• Background in aerospace, defense, medical device, or semiconductor capital equipment (precision motion systems).

• Hands-on experience with optical alignment automation, active alignment systems, or laser welding processes.

• Familiarity with reliability standards (Telcordia, MIL-STD, JEDEC).

• Track record of taking precision mechanical designs from concept through successful volume production.