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Optical Design Engineer

Gooch and Housego

  • Fremont, CA
  • 30+ days ago
  • $140,000–$170,000 Per Year

Highlights

G&H is a world leader in photonics technology, delivering advanced optical systems, components, and solutions that support mission-critical applications across aerospace, defense, life sciences, industrial manufacturing, medical technology, and research markets. Through a commitment to technical excellence, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction, G&H provides employees with the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies while collaborating with highly skilled engineering and manufacturing professionals in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.
Gooch and Housego

Numbers & Facts

LocationFremont, CA
IndustryManufacturing - Other
Salary$140,000–$170,000 Per Year
Company Size500 to 999 employees
Year Founded1948
Websitehttps://gandh.com/

Description

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Job Type

Full-time

Description

ABOUT US

Join a Global Photonics Leader Engineering Solutions from the Deep Ocean to Outer Space!

G&H is a world leader in photonics technology, delivering advanced optical systems, components, and solutions that support mission-critical applications across aerospace, defense, life sciences, industrial manufacturing, medical technology, and research markets.

Through a commitment to technical excellence, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction, G&H provides employees with the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies while collaborating with highly skilled engineering and manufacturing professionals in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking an experienced Optical Design Engineer to join our engineering team. This role will focus on the design, development, testing, and optimization of advanced optical products from prototype through production. Working cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, and Commercial teams, you will bring innovative photonics solutions to market while driving performance, reliability, and continuous improvement. The role will initially focus on prototype builds, testing, and characterization and evolve over time into Product Design based on experience and demonstrated capability.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

  • Design and develop acousto-optic and electro-optic products.
  • Support prototype builds, characterization, and product validation.
  • Perform optical modeling, data analysis, and performance optimization.
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing and Process Engineering on product releases.
  • Work with customers to define new designs and support product integration.
  • Resolve technical issues and implement design improvements.
  • Prepare technical documentation, reports, and specifications.

WHAT YOU BRING

  • Master's degree or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in optics, photonics, or laser systems.
  • Hands-on laboratory experience with optical systems, optomechanical assemblies, and laboratory testing.
  • Proficiency with MATLAB, Python or similar analysis tools.
  • Experience with RF systems or UV/MIR optics preferred.

Notes: This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities, and dimensions of the role. Employees are expected to undertake all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their manager.

US Applicants: In the instance that the position will involve having access to items and technical data that may be controlled under U.S. export laws and regulations ("U.S. Export Control Laws"), including but not limited to the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR") and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR"). To comply with the U.S. Export Control Laws, G&H must assess whether candidates are "U.S. persons" as defined under applicable regulations. Certain questions asked during the application process are intended to assess this and will be used for evaluation purposes only. Failure to provide the necessary information may result in our inability to consider you further for this position.

The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the grounds of gender, race, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Salary Description

$140,000 - $170,000 annually

About Company

G&H was founded G&H in Ilminster, Somerset in 1948. The core skills at the time were centered on manufacturing scientific optical components and crystalline materials. These skills are still very much at the cornerstone of the current operations at Ilminster with global sales of acousto-optics, crystal optics and precision optics. The company now works as a supply chain partner in aerospace & defence, industrial, life science and scientific research sectors providing systems and components based on a broad range of photonic technologies.

From its origins as a craft-based optical engineering company rich in practical optical manufacturing skills, G&H has undergone a transformation over the last twenty years into a high-technology photonics business through an acquisition policy of the best-in-breed companies in individual technology areas . The company now has manufacturing sites in the US in California, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Virginia, in addition to its three UK facilities located in Ashford, Ilminster, Glenrothes, St Asaph, and Torquay, and Shanghai, China.

In 1997 G&H was admitted to the alternative investment market (AIM) on the London Stock Exchange. Today the company comprises eight manufacturing sites, with sales offices in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore with additional representation by a global  network of distributors.

We have three core business:

AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE, INDUSTRIAL & TELECOM,  LIFE SCIENCES, AND BIOPHOTONICS with our expertise centering on the four technologies:

ACOUSTO-OPTICS - Vertically integrated acousto-optics (AO) manufacturing begins with the growth of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) and tellurium dioxide (TeO2) crystals used in AO devices. We orientate, cut, shape and polish crystals before they can be coated. Transducers are wire bonded and devices are packaged. We design drivers suitable for each product range.

Acousto-Optic Capabilities

ELECTRO-OPTICS - Our electro-optics (EO) manufacturing is also integrated. We grow our own crystal: Beta barium borate (BBO), Cadmium sulfide (CdS), Cadmium selenide (CdSe), Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), Potassium dideuterium phosphate (KD*P) and Tellurium dioxide (TeO2). Each material has different optical properties and we design and manufacture EO Pockel cells for a range of applications based on these. We also design and manufacture drivers to control and optimize Pockel cell performance for advanced laser systems.

Electro-Optic Capabilities

FIBER OPTICS - We are renowned for our active and passive components and photonic modules. We are able to provide high performance space- and Telcordia-qualified products for use in all-fiber systems. Our expertise encompasses challenging areas such as manufacturing HI-REL fused components for under-sea and space deployment, working with challenging materials such as PCF or chalcogenide, and designing and testing low SWaP modules for use in rugged environments.

Fiber Optic Capabilities

PRECISION OPTICS - We design and manufacture precision optics components and assemblies that few other companies can. Our planar, aspheric, prism and waveplate products are globally acclaimed. G&H precision PO capabilities cover a wide range of specialized manufacturing techniques from crystal growth, polishing including superpolishing, single point diamond turning, magneto optical finishing (MTF), segmented waveplates, anti-reflection, high reflection, and high laser damage threshold (HLDT) coatings, and adhesive free bonding. Furthermore aerospace and defense prime contractors rely on G&H to design and manufacture complex opto-mechanical assemblies.

PO Capabilities

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