Optical Engineer

At Bio-Rad, we advance science and save lives, together. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team focused on developing innovative products using our expertise in life sciences products, including but not limited to: qPCR, Digital PCR, Immunoassays and Cell Biology. Our products have enabled scientists around the world to make impactful discoveries in the life sciences and healthcare.

You will report directly to the Engineering Manager for Optical Systems, and be part of a larger multi-disciplinary R&D team. Come join us and be a key player in our next innovative instrument. The work will span from the research stage through product launch.

How You’ll Make An Impact:

• Design and develop optical systems based on fluorescence detection, microscopy, imaging and absorbance detection.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on optics, including dFX considerations.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of Systems, Mechanical, Electrical and Software engineers in all aspects of optical systems design.
• Work closely with Biology, Chemistry and Marketing teams to understand customer needs and provide input to sub-system requirements.
• Model optical systems using common simulation tools (Zemax) and create detailed photon budget analyses.
• Rapidly develop and test prototype systems, using knowledge of vendors and rapid-turn manufacturers.
• Work closely with systems integration teams to understand and characterize optical sub-systems.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to develop and transfer optical assembly and alignment procedures.
• Interface with vendors of optical components or sub-systems. Compile detailed specifications for vendors.
• Design and run tests to characterize optical performance.
• Troubleshoot optical systems, identify root cause and develop solutions for long term prevention of failures.
• Ensure compliance with quality and regulatory requirements, including design control processes, risk management, configuration control, requirements management and verification testing.
• Communicate results effectively, guiding the team through data and observations on critical design decisions.

What You Bring:

• MS or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field, with 5+ years post-graduation experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of optical systems design, including transfer to manufacturing. Strong foundations in optical design, including but not limited to optical imaging and aberrations, optical throughput analysis and optical filters.
• Prior experience developing and testing optical systems for bio-medical and diagnostics applications.
• Knowledge and experience with various types of light sources, including but not limited to LEDs and Lasers.
• Knowledge and experience with various types of detectors, including but not limited to photodiodes, PMTs and cameras. Must have experience with detection of low light signals (photon counting regime).
• Demonstrated experience designing full optical systems, utilizing components such as lenses, optical filters, and diffraction gratings. Applications must include fluorescence detection and imaging, microscopy, and absorbance based measurement.
• Expert level proficiency in Zemax (Non-Sequential and Sequential mode). Data analysis with Matlab, Python or other similar tools.
• Good presentation skills; must be able to clearly and concisely present complex ideas to a multidisciplinary group.
• Good documentation skills; ability to capture technical details in a concise and clear manner according to good documentation practices.

Additional Qualifications:

• Prior experience or knowledge of electronics used to drive optical systems.
• Ability to rapidly prototype optical systems using off-the-shelf components and programming peripherals is a big plus.
• Knowledge of relevant CFR, ISO and IEC standards for medical or life sciences devices.
• Prior experience in an FDA regulated environment is a plus.
• Strong knowledge and experience in opto-mechanical design, including optical component mounts for precision alignment, vibration isolation and shipping robustness.
• Knowledge of manufacturing and process development activities such as qualification, validation, design of experiments, FMEA.
• Prior experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams to develop optical systems.
• General knowledge or experience with molecular biology, immunology, or biological sciences.