Technical lead, Manufacturing & Integration (engineering operations)

Role Overview

Team Leadership

• Manage manufacturing technicians performing assembly, integration, alignment, test, inspection, rework, and troubleshooting.
• Set standards for workmanship, technical rigor, documentation, safety, ownership, and professional conduct.
• Develop technician capability through structured training, qualification, coaching, feedback, and development plans.

Technical Quality and Troubleshooting

• Oversee active builds and ensure released requirements, drawings, work instructions, test procedures, and acceptance criteria are correctly executed.
• Lead integration, optical alignment, calibration, verification, and failure investigations using physics-based reasoning and structured root-cause methods.
• Partner with engineers to disposition nonconformances and define corrective actions.

Product Transition and Execution

• Represent manufacturing in requirements definition, design reviews, verification planning, and transition-readiness decisions.
• Convert development knowledge into controlled build records, tooling, training, and test methods.
• Use manufacturing, yield, rework, nonconformance, and test data to identify recurring problems and drive improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in physics, applied physics, optical engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Typically seven or more years of relevant experience, or four or more years with an advanced degree, working on complex scientific or electro-optical systems.
• Hands-on experience with lasers, spectroscopy, precision optics, or comparable instrumentation.
• Experience leading and developing technicians or other hands-on technical personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in physics, applied physics, optical engineering, or a related experimental discipline.
• Experience with atomic, molecular, and optical physics, quantum systems, laser frequency control, vacuum systems, or precision metrology.
• Experience with design reviews, requirements and verification management, configuration control, nonconformance review, or ISO 9001, AS9100, or comparable systems.

Work Environment

• This is a primarily on-site role supporting hands-on manufacturing, integration, and laboratory work.
• Work may take place in manufacturing areas, optical laboratories, cleanrooms, and controlled-access environments with appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Occasional support outside standard working hours may be required for critical integration, test, or delivery activities.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range is $160,000 to $165,000 per year.
• Benefits include company-paid medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and AD&D insurance, plus health and flexible savings accounts.
• Additional benefits include unlimited paid time off, 401(k) match, leave programs, employee assistance, student loan repayment, and equity.