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Lead Mechanical/Simulation Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

Lead Mechanical/Simulation Engineer at Picarro

Santa Clara, CA

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced engineer and lead for development of our next-generation

spectroscopy platform and gas measurement products.

Picarro’s family of products deliver real-time measurements of critical gases at parts-per-billion and parts-per-trillion

levels. The Lead Mechanical/Simulation Engineer will be part of world-class team of engineers working to develop

products using Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy (CRDS) with broadband lasers for best-in-class precision and

performance. This is an amazing career development opportunity for the right individual to join a well-funded and

growing company. The position reports to the Director of Opto-Mechanical Engineering.

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished mechanical engineer and technical lead and passionate about solving

cross-function product development and manufacturing challenges. Candidate must have successfully launched new

optical products through the pilot phase and handoff to manufacturing. The right person has a can-do attitude,

mentors junior engineers naturally, and is dedicated to building world-class product and shepherding it into

manufacturing. They love working in a collaborative environment where they can learn as well as teach. In short, they

want to be challenged and have a huge impact on the future of the company.

Key Responsibilities

Create advanced optomechanical designs for Picarro’s next generation CRDS optical cavities including

thermomechanical stability analysis, gas flow analysis, and create tooling and assembly processes to support

engineering pilot builds. Serve as a technical lead for other mechanical engineers and a mentor to junior engineers.

Technical Leadership and Expertise:

• Hands-On Engineering: Build the things you design. Be a hands-on engineering individual contributor and

technical expert for the development and manufacturing of high-precision, high-performing micro-

optomechanical systems.

• Simulation Expertise: Effectively utilize simulation tools to inform the design of CDRS cavities including

thermo-mechanical stress analysis, gas flow channel, and optical simulations.

• Optical Component Expertise: Demonstrate familiarity with near-infrared optical components such as

lasers, detectors, isolators, and coated optics.

• Technical Proficiency: Possess technical expertise with micro-bench optics, active/passive alignment

processes, and maintaining mechanical tolerances at micron levels.

• Modern Attachment Techniques: Have knowledge of modern optical attachment techniques, including

UV/thermal epoxies, soldering, and laser welding, to improve manufacturability and reliability.

• High-Reliability Applications: Experience in high-reliability applications requiring wide operating/storage

temperature ranges.

• Reliability Testing and Analysis: Own reliability testing, failure analysis, and feedback incorporation into

the design.

• Emerging Technologies: Stay abreast of emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices, and

incorporate them into product development strategies.

• Tool Design and Build: Design and build the tools necessary to implement designs for both prototyping and

pilot production builds.

• Technical Standards: Establish and maintain technical standards, processes, and methodologies to ensure

high-quality deliverables and efficient operations.

Qualifications and Experience

• BS required. MS or PhD preferred in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in engineering or R&D.• 7+ years in optical design, optomechanical alignment, attachment, and packaging of compact optical

subassemblies

• Strong understanding of system architecture and design of devices with optical, mechanical, electronics, and

software subsystems.

• Extensive knowledge of development methodologies, tools, and best practices. Proficiency in simulation

tools for mechanical (e.g., FEA) and optical (e.g., ray tracing) analysis.

• Experience with compliance and safety-critical device development.

• Proven track record of successfully leading engineering teams and managing cross-functional development

of complex hardware and software systems.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities and requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience product design, prototyping and pilot production.

 

Our total compensation packages includes base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity.

 

About Picarro

Picarro, Inc. is empowering the world with timely, trusted, and actionable data for environmental monitoring. Our

innovative technologies are at the forefront of detecting and managing emissions, ensuring safe and sustainable

operations, helping industries comply with regulatory standards and improve air quality. Our trace gas and stable

isotope analysis solutions are based on patented cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology, and offer

unparalleled precision, ease of use, and reliability. Picarro solutions are used in a wide variety of scientific and

industrial applications including atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, gas leak detection,

food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. The company's products are designed and manufactured at its

headquarters in Santa Clara, California and exported to countries worldwide.

Honors awarded the Company include the World Economic Forum Technology Innovation Pioneer, IHS CERA Energy

Innovation Pioneer, the U.S. Department of Energy Small Business of the Year, the TiE50 Winner and the Red

Herring Global 100 Winner.

Key investors include Benchmark Capital Partners, Greylock Management Corporation, Duff, Ackerman & Goodrich,

Stanford University, Focus Ventures, Mingxin China Growth Ltd., NTT Finance and Weston Presidio Capital.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national

origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, nor on the basis of disability.

Posted positions are not open to third party recruiters/agencies and unsolicited resume submissions will be

considered free referrals.

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