Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Principal Photonics Process Development Engineer with deep expertise in optical fiber processes. As we scale, you will play a critical role in building robust, production-ready fiber handling and integration capabilities from the ground up. This is a highly hand-on on role for a self-starter who thrives in a dynamic startup environment. You will work closely with device, optical, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers to turn fragile photonic designs into reliable, manufacturable products—with particular ownership over fiber-based processes and interfaces. You’ll have the opportunity to define best-in-class methods for fiber preparation, handling, and integration, while influencing tooling, automation, and overall process architecture.

Key Responsibilities:

Own and lead development of fiber-centric processes, including:

• Precision fiber cleaving (single-mode, PM, specialty fibers)
• Fusion splicing (including low-loss and polarization-maintaining alignment)
• Fiber endcapping and thermal management strategies
• Fiber cleaning, preparation, and contamination control
• Inspection and analysis (end-face quality, geometry, defects, burn-back, etc.)

Develop and optimize photonic assembly processes:

• Fiber-to-device coupling and active alignment
• Integration of fibers into packages (TO, butterfly, micro-optic assemblies)
• Optics attach (lenses, isolators, fiber arrays)

Broader packaging and assembly responsibilities:

• Die attach (epoxy, eutectic, solder)
• Wire bonding (Au, Al; ball and wedge)
• Vacuum reflow soldering (AuSn, SAC, indium)

Process development & manufacturing scale-up:

• Design and execute DOE to improve coupling efficiency, yield, and reliability
• Transition processes from R&D to pilot and production environments
• Develop process flows, work instructions, and manufacturing documentation
• Perform root-cause analysis on optical loss, fiber damage, and reliability failures
• Define tooling, fixturing, and automation strategies for fiber handling

Cross-functional collaboration & leadership:

• Work with equipment vendors on fiber tooling (splicers, cleavers, inspection systems)
• Support qualification, reliability testing, and failure analysis
• Train technicians and engineers on fiber handling best practices