Back to jobs

System Test Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

The Opportunity

Are you an engineer who enjoys getting hands-on with complex systems, solving difficult technical problems, and discovering why something is not working?

Picarro is looking for a System Test Engineer to join our Operations/Manufacturing team. You will work directly with sophisticated analytical instruments, performing system-level testing, troubleshooting challenging issues, and helping ensure every system meets our performance and quality standards.

We are seeking someone with strong systems thinking and hands-on troubleshooting skills. Experience with lasers, optics, analytical instrumentation, or complex electromechanical systems is a strong fit. Experience with broadband lasers, laser spectroscopy, Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS), mass spectrometry, gas analysis, or vacuum systems is especially valuable, but not required.

What You Will Do

  • Test, validate, and troubleshoot complex analytical instruments.
  • Diagnose issues across lasers, optics, electronics, detectors, mechanical systems, vacuum and gas-handling systems, software, and firmware.
  • Analyze system and test data to isolate failures at the system, subsystem, and component levels.
  • Investigate root causes and help resolve recurring manufacturing and test issues.
  • Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Service teams to resolve technical problems.
  • Refine test procedures and troubleshooting methods to improve product quality and manufacturing efficiency.
  • Support new product introductions, engineering changes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Document test results, technical findings, and corrective actions clearly and accurately.

What We Are Looking For

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
  • 3+ years of relevant hands-on experience in system test, manufacturing test, scientific or analytical instrumentation, lasers and optics, or complex electromechanical systems.
  • Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and root-cause problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work across multiple technical disciplines and understand how subsystems interact.
  • Comfortable interpreting test data, schematics, technical documentation, and system diagrams.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across technical teams.

Nice to have:

  • Near-infrared laser systems, broadband lasers, or laser spectroscopy.
  • CRDS or other optical spectroscopy technologies.
  • Mass spectrometry or other analytical instrumentation.
  • Gas analyzers, vacuum systems, or gas-handling systems.
  • Optical and electrical troubleshooting.
  • Manufacturing or production test engineering.
  • Python, MATLAB, or similar test and data-analysis tools.

The base salary range for this full-time position is $80K to $100K. Our total compensation packages include base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity. Your base salary range and title will be determined based on the location, experience, qualification, skills, knowledge, level, and pay of employees in similar positions.

We offer a comprehensive benefit package including:

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
  • Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
  • Employee Referral Program
  • 401K
  • Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
  • On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu-shots, etc.)

 

About Picarro:

We are the world's leader in timely, trusted, and actionable data using enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including natural gas leak detection, ethylene oxide emissions monitoring, semiconductor fabrication, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. Our software and hardware are designed and manufactured in Santa Clara, California and are used in over 90 countries worldwide based on over 65 patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology and are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, and reliability.

At Picarro, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals. 

At Picarro, we strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact Picarro, Inc. at disabilityassistance@picarro.com for assistance. 

 

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Picarro, Inc? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Picarro, Inc’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...