What are the responsibilities and job description for the Optical Scientist position at Thorlabs?
Purpose of the Position
This position is for an entry to mid-level individual who has an optics background. Position entails the development and design of new products for Thorlabs Spectral Work's (TSW) textured AR product line, as well as supporting development efforts for Reticles, Test Targets, and SERS (Surfaced Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) product lines. The Scientist will be responsible for managing projects from concept to finished product. Although the location of the position is in Columbia, SC, in very limited cases it may be required to undertake duties at other Thorlabs locations.
Must be US Person able to work on ITAR products
Essential Job Functions include the following, but are not limited to :
- Maintain and adhere to stringent cleanroom protocols, including gowning, contamination control, and environmental monitoring to ensure a pristine fabrication environment.
- Design, develop, and fabricate metasurface optics using advanced nanofabrication techniques, ensuring high precision and quality in the final products.
- Execute photolithography processes, including mask alignment, exposure, and development, to pattern microscale and nanoscale features on substrates.
- Operate and optimize equipment for thin-film deposition, such as sputtering, electron beam evaporation, or chemical vapor deposition (CVD), to achieve desired optical properties.
- Perform dry and wet etching processes to transfer patterns into substrates, with a focus on achieving high resolution and accurate feature dimensions.
- Utilize advanced metrology tools, such as optical spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to characterize the structural and optical properties of fabricated devices.
- Analyze and optimize fabrication processes to improve yield, uniformity, and performance of metasurface / textured optics and photolithography products.
- Collect and analyze experimental data, and prepare detailed reports and presentations on findings, process improvements, and product performance.
- Perform regular maintenance and calibration of cleanroom equipment to ensure consistent and reliable operation.
- Work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, physicists, and technicians, to develop innovative Metasurface / textured designs and integrate them into larger optical systems.
The Company retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.
Requirements
Qualifications
Experience :
Education :
Specialized Knowledge and Skills :
Benefits
Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.
