{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"7b53027a242d02b1a0b00a9c","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/7b53027a242d02b1a0b00a9c","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/7b53027a242d02b1a0b00a9c","title":"Optical Engineer","description":"Who We Are\nAt nLIGHT, we are constantly on the cutting-edge of laser technology in a massively growing market. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made but also changing the things that can be made.\nHeadquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).\nSummary\nThe Optical Engineer will support the development of advanced fiber amplifiers and fiber lasers for defense, aerospace, and commercial applications.\nIn this position you will work as part of small and agile engineering team in a fast-growing, vertically integrated company contributing to R+D, prototype assembly, and testing. You will continue to develop expertise in laser systems through mentoring and self-guided learning. This position will be onsite in the Greater-Boston area and will report to the Director of Engineering.\nResponsibilities\nContribute to a cross-functional team pursuing the development of novel fiber amplifiers and fiber laser designs.\nSupport agile R&D to rapidly develop prototypes with hands-on laboratory assembly and testing including setup, alignment, troubleshooting, and characterization of optical, opto-electrical, and opto-mechanical systems.\nAccurately and repeatably collect, analyze, and document experimental data and communicate the results to the project team. Create and maintain test procedures, reports, and data sets.\nApply existing theoretical and experimental understanding of lasers, non-linear and diffractive optics, and opto-mechanical design to the R+D projects.\nParticipate in design reviews and technical discussions.\nWork with senior engineers to develop solutions to technical challenges. Collaborate with teams across other nLIGHT locations including WA, OR, and CO.\nOccasional travel to work in person with colleagues at other sites, for field trials, and to assist in transfer to manufacturing. Estimated travel up to 10%.\nMinimum Qualifications\nBS in Physics, Optical Engineering, Material Science, or a related engineering discipline required. MS or PhD preferred.\n3+ years of work experience, or an equivalent combination of graduate education and work experience.\nHands on experience with development of fiber and/or solid-state lasers and amplifiers, optics, and/or opto-mechanical systems.\nExperienced with in non-linear optics.\nSolid analytical and problem-solving skills, including problem identification, data analysis, action planning, and execution\nStrong theoretical and experimental understanding of lasers and their associated optics\nStrong hands-on experimental skills and familiarity with test equipment (power supplies, signal generators, oscilloscopes, optical detectors / power meters, etc.)\nAbility to summarize and present results and conclusions clearly and effectively\nAbility to work as both a leader and contributor\nPreferred Experience\nExperience handling and splicing optical fibers.\nExperience writing programs, using software to analyze data, and interfacing with test equipment (fiber optical) modeling simulation.\nnLIGHT is proud to offer comprehensive COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:\nSalary level based on qualifications\nOther Compensation and Benefits\nTarget Cash Bonus of 5% of earned wages\nEligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants\n4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year\n10 paid Holidays\nEligible for health benefits on the 1st day of the month after your start date\nMedical, Dental and Vision Benefits, including prescription and orthodontia with employee-paid premiums as low as $40.00 per pay period\nFlexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts\nEmployee Stock Purchase Plan\n401(k) with company match and immediate vesting\nCompany paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance\nEmployee Assistance Program\nAflac Supplemental Insurance\nPaid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty\nTuition Assistance Program\nPet Insurance\n\nnLIGHT is subject to US Export Control regulations. To qualify for this position, you must be a US Person (that is, a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual granted asylum or refugee status).\n\nEqual Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (360) 566-4460 or HR@nlight.net.\nE-Verify Participation:\nnLIGHT participates in the E-Verify program. This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.\nFor more information, please review the following notices:\nE-Verify Participation Poster\nRight to Work Poster","company":"Nlight","rawCompany":"nlight","city":"Denver","state":"CO","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-15T13:16:52.206Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2199.07","title":"Photonics Engineers","slug":"photonics-engineers"},{"code":"17-2199.00","title":"Engineers, All Other","slug":"engineers-all-other"},{"code":"17-3029.08","title":"Photonics Technicians","slug":"photonics-technicians"}],"industries":[{"code":"541715","title":"Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)","slug":"research-and-development-in-the-physical-engineering-and-life-sciences-except-nanotechnology-and-biotechnology"},{"code":"334511","title":"Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing","slug":"search-detection-navigation-guidance-aeronautical-and-nautical-system-and-instrument-manufacturing"},{"code":"335921","title":"Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing","slug":"fiber-optic-cable-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Optical Engineer","description":"Who We Are\nAt nLIGHT, we are constantly on the cutting-edge of laser technology in a massively growing market. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made but also changing the things that can be made.\nHeadquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).\nSummary\nThe Optical Engineer will support the development of advanced fiber amplifiers and fiber lasers for defense, aerospace, and commercial applications.\nIn this position you will work as part of small and agile engineering team in a fast-growing, vertically integrated company contributing to R+D, prototype assembly, and testing. You will continue to develop expertise in laser systems through mentoring and self-guided learning. This position will be onsite in the Greater-Boston area and will report to the Director of Engineering.\nResponsibilities\nContribute to a cross-functional team pursuing the development of novel fiber amplifiers and fiber laser designs.\nSupport agile R&D to rapidly develop prototypes with hands-on laboratory assembly and testing including setup, alignment, troubleshooting, and characterization of optical, opto-electrical, and opto-mechanical systems.\nAccurately and repeatably collect, analyze, and document experimental data and communicate the results to the project team. Create and maintain test procedures, reports, and data sets.\nApply existing theoretical and experimental understanding of lasers, non-linear and diffractive optics, and opto-mechanical design to the R+D projects.\nParticipate in design reviews and technical discussions.\nWork with senior engineers to develop solutions to technical challenges. Collaborate with teams across other nLIGHT locations including WA, OR, and CO.\nOccasional travel to work in person with colleagues at other sites, for field trials, and to assist in transfer to manufacturing. Estimated travel up to 10%.\nMinimum Qualifications\nBS in Physics, Optical Engineering, Material Science, or a related engineering discipline required. MS or PhD preferred.\n3+ years of work experience, or an equivalent combination of graduate education and work experience.\nHands on experience with development of fiber and/or solid-state lasers and amplifiers, optics, and/or opto-mechanical systems.\nExperienced with in non-linear optics.\nSolid analytical and problem-solving skills, including problem identification, data analysis, action planning, and execution\nStrong theoretical and experimental understanding of lasers and their associated optics\nStrong hands-on experimental skills and familiarity with test equipment (power supplies, signal generators, oscilloscopes, optical detectors / power meters, etc.)\nAbility to summarize and present results and conclusions clearly and effectively\nAbility to work as both a leader and contributor\nPreferred Experience\nExperience handling and splicing optical fibers.\nExperience writing programs, using software to analyze data, and interfacing with test equipment (fiber optical) modeling simulation.\nnLIGHT is proud to offer comprehensive COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:\nSalary level based on qualifications\nOther Compensation and Benefits\nTarget Cash Bonus of 5% of earned wages\nEligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants\n4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year\n10 paid Holidays\nEligible for health benefits on the 1st day of the month after your start date\nMedical, Dental and Vision Benefits, including prescription and orthodontia with employee-paid premiums as low as $40.00 per pay period\nFlexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts\nEmployee Stock Purchase Plan\n401(k) with company match and immediate vesting\nCompany paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance\nEmployee Assistance Program\nAflac Supplemental Insurance\nPaid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty\nTuition Assistance Program\nPet Insurance\n\nnLIGHT is subject to US Export Control regulations. To qualify for this position, you must be a US Person (that is, a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual granted asylum or refugee status).\n\nEqual Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (360) 566-4460 or HR@nlight.net.\nE-Verify Participation:\nnLIGHT participates in the E-Verify program. This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.\nFor more information, please review the following notices:\nE-Verify Participation Poster\nRight to Work Poster","datePosted":"2026-08-15T13:16:52.206Z","dateModified":"2026-08-15T13:16:52.206Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Nlight","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Denver","addressRegion":"CO","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"7b53027a242d02b1a0b00a9c"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/7b53027a242d02b1a0b00a9c"}}