nLIGHT Careers

Description

nLIGHT is searching for a Mechanical Engineer to design, document, and release production equipment, fixtures, and tooling used to manufacture high-power solid-state lasers and laser systems. Working within a multidisciplinary team, this role focuses on the equipment and tooling that enable manufacturing.  

Who We Are: 

At nLIGHT, we are constantly on the cutting-edge of laser technology in a rapidly growing market. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made, but also changing the things that can be made.       

Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).       

Summary:   

Designs, develops, and qualifies production equipment, fixtures, tooling, and automation that enable the manufacture of high-power lasers and laser systems. Collaborates with multidisciplinary engineering and Operations teams to deliver documented, repeatable, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions from design through production handoff. Serves as the first engineering escalation point for process, equipment, and product issues, using hands-on assembly, optical fiber splicing, microscope inspection, electrical and laser testing, and production data analysis to identify root causes and validate improvements. 

Responsibilities:       

• Contributes to and/or leads mechanical design efforts in the development of new high power laser manufacturing processes, systems, products, and assembly tooling 
• Works with Operations and Process development teams to establish and qualify processes and fixturing for high power laser system assembly and test procedures 
• Devises, designs, builds, and qualifies robust tooling for assembly processes and electro-optic test equipment 
• Works with relevant vendors to evaluate new equipment and fixture designs to reduce cost and complexity 
• Plans and executes design verification test protocols to qualify equipment and fixtures for production use 
• Adapts established and innovative low-cost manufacturing concepts to high power laser product systems designs 
• Collaborates with electrical, controls, and optical engineers to integrate precision motion, sensors, actuators, and mechanical assemblies into automated laser assembly and test equipment. 
• Creates and maintains engineering drawings, bills of materials, equipment specifications, and work instructions; releases designs and revisions through established document-control and engineering-change processes. 
• Partners with Operations, Process Engineering, and Quality to investigate equipment and tooling failures, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and verify their effectiveness using production and test data. 
• Applies design-for-manufacturing and assembly principles to improve fixture repeatability, assembly efficiency, and serviceability while maintaining required performance, quality, and cost objectives. 
• Supports installation, commissioning, and transfer of qualified equipment and fixtures to production, including operating documentation, training, and coordination of maintenance and calibration requirements.  

Qualifications:       

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Physics, or a comparable field of study, and at least 5 years of experience in mechanical engineering or a closely related role. A master’s degree is preferred. 
• Proficiency with SolidWorks, engineering drawing practices, and GD&T 
• Demonstrated experience with both equipment and product design 
• Ability to conduct engineering analyses involving advanced materials selection; thermal, fluid, and mechanical modeling; and mechanical and/or optical tolerances. Ability to evaluate assembly and test equipment. 
• Experience with low cost, high quality manufacturing techniques. Ideal candidates will have a history of adapting technologies from other industries to lower-volume, high mix manufacturing models 
• Candidate shall be highly organized and detail-oriented with clear and professional written and oral communication skills 
• Candidate shall be self-motivated and able to work with minimal guidance in the areas of defining specifications and requirements, assuring customer needs are addressed, and delivering fully documented solutions  
• Working knowledge of precision machining and fabrication methods, dimensional inspection, and tolerance stack-up analysis for mechanical assemblies and tooling. 
• Hands-on experience assembling, measuring, and troubleshooting mechanical equipment and tooling, with the ability to use test data to identify root causes and validate design improvements. 

Preferred Qualifications:       

• Background in precision opto-mechanical design and optoelectronic packaging.  
• Hands-on work with electro-optic test equipment and procedures.  
• Participation in New Product Introduction (NPI) and product qualification practices.  
• Prior use of ANSYS or other finite element software.  
• Background in designing or integrating automated manufacturing equipment, including precision motion systems, sensors, actuators, and pneumatic components, in collaboration with electrical and controls engineers 
• Background in fiber or solid-state laser systems, precision optical alignment, or laser assembly and test automation, including familiarity with applicable laser safety practices.  
• Familiarity with robotics, machine vision, or automated data acquisition used in precision assembly, alignment, and testing. 

Work Environment: 

• Works in office, laboratory, and manufacturing settings, combining computer-based design and analysis with hands-on equipment assembly, inspection, and testing. 
• Works around laser systems, electrical test equipment, and mechanical assemblies; follows applicable safety procedures and uses required personal protective equipment. 
• Performs tasks involving sitting, standing, walking, reaching, and positioning components and tooling during assembly and equipment evaluation. 
• Performs precision assembly and inspection tasks using small components, hand tools, microscopes, and test equipment. 
• Performs the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. 

• Target Cash Bonus of 5% of earned wages, [depending on level]  
• Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants  
• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year 
• 10 paid Holidays 
• Eligible for health benefits on the 1st day of the month after your start date 
• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits, including prescription and orthodontia with employee-paid premiums as low as $40.00 per pay period 
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts  
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan  
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting  
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Aflac Supplemental Insurance 
• Paid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty 
• Tuition Assistance Program 
• Pet Insurance 

• E-Verify Participation Poster 

• Right to Work Poster