Optical Design Engineer (Level I/II) - ETC

ETC, the world leader in Theatrical Lighting, is seeking an Optical Design Engineer to join our team! We're open to candidates of all experience levels, including seasoned Optical and Photonics Engineers who can share their experience and knowledge as we continue to make cutting edge products for our customers around the globe.

Strong candidates will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, experience designing optical/photonic systems, and a solid understanding of optical component design tolerances. Experience with Zemax, TracePro, and Solidworks software is a plus.

In additional to our casual and fun work environment, ETC offers fantastic benefits that start on day one of employment, an on-site fitness center, on-site deli, unique break areas, and so much more! Come join our team and be part of a company that likes to Have Fun and Make Money!

Representative Responsibilities:
• Performs assigned project tasks under direct supervision of more senior-level engineers.
• Participates in the development effort under the direction of management and more senior team members
• Makes design modifications or improvements to development projects with supervision
• Maintains project reference documentation
• Develops test and verification procedures
• May be involved in continuing engineering maintenance and manufacturing floor support of existing products
• Provides task completion time estimates
• Attends identified training classes
• Participates as a team member, works effectively in a team environment
• Becomes familiar with tools and applications utilized by department
• Learns department and corporate policies, procedures and plans
• Define acceptable optical performance parameters for ETC’s lighting fixtures
• Develop procedures to ensure that designed and manufactured fixtures perform to those parameters
• Assist mechanical engineer with design of opto-mechanical systems
• Develop quantifiable beam and image specifications for new light fixtures based on Marketing specification requirements
• Utilize software design and analysis programs to analyze optical elements and systems that meet these specifications
• Design and perform experiments to investigate design problems and determine optical element fabrication tolerances
• Assist in the preparation, review, and editing of marketing photometric data sheets and technical documents
• Assist in Communications with suppliers
• Qualify new optical element suppliers
• Discuss quality-related problems and work with supplier and Quality to resolve them
• Assist Senior optical design engineer in the development of optical portions of the design specification
• Develop and conduct and report on photometric testing of ETC & competitive products to benchmark their performance
• Compile all photometric testing data and format for insertion into the design specification and publishable photometric data
• Assist Senior optical design engineer with the optical validation test plan of a project
• Define methods of qualification of optical system and individual optical components
• Define methods for verification of performance of the optical system and individual components
• Perform photometric and optical component validation testing in conjunction with vendors on mockups, prototypes, and production as required
• Develop methods of measuring and maintaining acceptable optical component tolerance in production and monitor optical components and system quality in Manufacturing on a regular basis
• Assist with the design and building of optical component test fixtures for QA and production
• Provide technical assistance to QA and production on optical components and the use of test fixtures and related equipment
• Write Work Instructions for quality control of optical system and individual components, and train Quality personnel in these Work Instructions.
• Work with suppliers and QA personnel to resolve any optical quality problems
• Verifies ECR/ECOs on optical components
• Assist in the creation and maintenance or production test records
• Provide training to QA and production personnel on the proper assembly of new products
• Write and maintain the photometric and optical test procedure documentation for ISO 9001 quality system
• Maintain a library of photometric and other optical testing literature, including standards and references
• Responsible for the organization and maintenance of the optical test lab and equipment
• Provides technical assistance to other departments, vendors, and customers on optic related matters
• Provide input to improve departmental processes and quality
• Recommends the purchase of new equipment for departmental improvements
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Completes special projects and assignments in a positive and timely manner

Minimum Requirements:
• Bachelor’s Degree
• 0-3 years of job-related experience
• Communication Skills
• Demonstrates basic written/verbal skills
• Has good grasp of grammar and sentence structure for technical writing
• Listens/gives constructive feedback
• Good group interaction skills
• Ability to follow directions and project plans
• Creativity/Problem Solving
• Demonstrates ability to solve problems of limited scope and perform root cause analysis
• Analyzes data using standard, straightforward methods
• Grasps technical concepts and asks for clarification and direction when needed
• Technical Expertise
• Ability to implement designs for well-defined blocks
• Understands and applies accepted engineering principles and practices
• Assists with design or modification of a product, service, or process
• Experience in the development of optical systems, components, and test equipment and procedures
• Good knowledge of illumination optics and beam patterns
• Good knowledge of optical design principles, component specification, and tolerances
• Good knowledge of various optical production methods
• Good knowledge of the use of light measurement equipment (i.e. light meter, color meter, CCD camera)
• Good knowledge of the use of electrical test equipment (i.e. voltmeter, scope, power meter)
• Some knowledge of Prometric photometric testing software desirable
• Some knowledge of Zemax optical design software desirable
• Good knowledge of the use of mechanical test equipment (i.e. dial calipers, heights gage, feeler gage)