Optics Hardware Manufacturing Test Engineer

About the Team:

Born at X, Google's Moonshot Factory, Taara is on a mission to connect billions of people lacking abundant and affordable internet today by pioneering the way we use light to deliver faster, cheaper, more reliable connectivity. Lead the charge in bringing our groundbreaking wireless optical communication and photonics chip technologies to the world. Drive our growth story as we scale innovative solutions across the world. Join us to light the way for bridging the digital divide and illuminating the future.

About the Role:

Our team is seeking a Optics Hardware Manufacturing Test Engineer to support the Research and Development team's design and development of test stations for our next-generation Wireless Optical Communication (WOC) system. You'll be responsible for developing and streamlining comprehensive manufacturing test processes and stations while building and deploying these systems at our contract manufacturing partners. Working within a multidisciplinary engineering team, you'll collaborate closely with optical, mechanical, photonics, manufacturing, and operations teams to ensure seamless transition from R&D prototypes to production. You will implement our optical testing strategy and our established test stations to ensure the deployment of robust and reliable systems at our partner sites. This role requires hands-on technical expertise combined with strong cross-functional collaboration skills between the internal engineering teams and external contract manufacturing partners.

How You Will Make 10x Impact:

• Create and maintain travelers to accurately track hardware through inventory, assembly, and testing processes

• Design, build, and deploy automated test stations for manufacturing including optical test benches and photonic component testing.

• Develop comprehensive test procedures and protocols covering incoming inspection, in-process validation, and final system qualification

• Own and maintain the engineering team’s inspection, qualification, and storage processes while creating and managing tools for seamless communication across the broader engineering and manufacturing teams

• Build and support design for manufacturing (DFM) tools and test stations

• Collaborate on setting up and managing test data storage systems with database architecture, statistical analysis, and automated reporting capabilities

• Collaborate with contract manufacturers and new product introduction teams to set up test stations, establish metrology standards, and implement test processes

What You Must Have:

• BS in Optical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, with 6+ years of industry experience

• 3+ years design, build, and deployment of moderately complex test stations for manufacturing including optical/photonics test systems, optical test benches and photonic component testing.

• 3+ years experience in optical test equipment and tools including optical power meters, optical spectrum analyzers, tunable laser sources, beam profiling equipment, and opto-mechanical stages with optomechanical builds like assembling fore labs, components.

• 2+ years Manufacturing or production process and testing in high-tech (semiconductor, telecommunications, aerospace, lidar, or similar)

• Familiarity and experience with the catalogs of major off-the-shelf optical / opto-mechanical manufacturers (Thorlabs, Edmund Optics, Newport)

• Background with the following software languages: Python, MATLAB, SQL

• Ability to work in the Sunnyvale office at least 3 days per week.

It'd Be Great If You Also Had These:

• 8+ years of industry experience with increasing technical responsibility

• Experience with photonic integrated circuits (PICs) including silicon photonics and III-V semiconductor platforms

• Advanced interferometry techniques and coherent optical system experience

• Familiarity with electrical test equipment including oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers

• Experience in hardware automation

• A passion for precision, neatness, and organization with demonstrated ability to maintain detailed documentation and procedures

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $160,000 - $210,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.