Optical Engineer, Advanced Light Sheet Microscopy

About the role

The Optical Engineer, Advanced Light Sheet Microscopy plays a crucial role in designing, prototyping, implementing, and optimizing custom subsystems for light-sheet microscopes and other advanced imaging platforms. They integrate mechanical, thermal, fluidic, optical, and electronic components into cohesive, reliable experimental systems. This position requires a combination of practical advanced optical design and system-building experience with the ability to develop and maintain robust control software for advanced light-sheet microscopes.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, implement, and optimise custom subsystems for light-sheet microscopes and other advanced imaging platforms.
• Develop modular hardware control software in Python (and occasionally C/C++) to interface with cameras, stages, lasers, sensors, and other instrumentation components.
• Design and implement automated or "smart" imaging protocols incorporating feedback loops (e.g., sensor-driven control, adaptive imaging strategies, and real-time decision-making).
• Collaborate with scientists, bioengineers, computer scientists, and biologists to implement new features and capabilities, including hardware interfaces, acquisition modes, graphical user interfaces, smart automation, high-performance data visualization, and scalable data storage pipelines.
• Contribute to data acquisition workflows capable of handling large-scale imaging datasets, including performance optimization, structured data saving, and integration with downstream analysis pipelines.
• Document system architectures, mechanical designs, schematics, and assembly procedures to ensure reproducibility, maintainability, and scalability.

Requirements

• Master of Science, or PhD degree in Optics, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• Strong practical engineering skills with demonstrated experience designing, prototyping, and iterating hardware control systems (at least 5 years).
• Solid working knowledge of electronics and embedded systems, including microcontrollers, DACs/ADCs, and basic PCB design (at least 4 years).
• Experience with CAD design (e.g., SolidWorks, OnShape, or similar) and rapid prototyping methods such as 3D printing, machining, laser cutting (at least 3 years).
• Strong programming experience in Python; Experience with C/C++/Rust desired (at least 5 years).
• Proven experience developing hardware control scripts and integrating third-party devices.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, and software systems in experimental or research environments.
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset; ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in light-sheet microscopy or other similar precision optical instruments are highly desirable.
• Experience or interest in integrating Adaptive Optics (AO) components (e.g., deformable mirrors).
• Experience with feedback control systems, sensors, and real-time automation. Experience designing or integrating thermal control, microfluidic, perfusion, or environmental control systems.
• Experience and deep understanding of low-level coding in C and C++.
• Familiarity with high-performance computing concepts (multi-threading, GPU acceleration, parallel processing) for image processing or data-intensive applications.
• Familiarity with Linux-based systems and device driver configuration.
• Familiarity with optical metrology, such as PSF characterization.
• Experience working in a biological or life sciences research environment.

Skills

• Practical advanced optical design and system-building experience.
• Ability to develop and maintain robust control software for advanced light-sheet microscopes.
• Strong programming experience in Python.
• Experience with C/C++/Rust.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex systems.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.

Benefits

• Employer match on employee 401(k) contributions.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice.
• Funding for select family-forming benefits.
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving.

Pay

The San Francisco, CA base pay range for a new hire in this role is $153,000.00 - $191,000.00. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process.

Schedule

This position may be eligible to participate in our discretionary annual performance bonus program. Bonus eligibility and targets are determined in accordance with our total rewards philosophy and may vary by role.

Company Information

Biohub is a 501(c)(3) biomedical research organization building the first large-scale scientific initiative combining frontier AI with frontier biology to solve disease. We build the technology to help scientists around the world use AI-powered biology to study how cells operate, organize, and work as part of systems to understand why disease happens and how to correct it. With our compute capacity, AI research and engineering, and state-of-the-art technology for measuring, imaging, and programming biology, we are enabling scientists worldwide to use AI-powered biology to advance our understanding of human health.