Optical Scientist

Lightera has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, tracing back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone over a century ago. We have a proven track record of pioneering application-specific optical fibers, connectors, cables, amplifiers, lasers, sensors, and more. Our mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing, and delivering the best optical fibers, cables, and devices for our customers, with exceptional service that creates value for our shareholders, customers, and employees.

About the role

The Optical Scientist will join Lightera Laboratories, our corporate R&D facility in Somerset, NJ, to work on a team that designs, fabricates, tests, and prototypes innovative technology serving the medical, industrial, aerospace, and telecommunications fields. The ideal candidate will advance our high-power fiber laser portfolio by identifying and solving technical problems—both independently and as part of a team—in developing new products and manufacturing processes. This role has the potential to grow into an independent research and development program.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research, propose experiments, and analyze data to validate hypotheses and improve understanding, particularly for troubleshooting performance, quality, equipment, and materials issues related to high-power fiber lasers and telecommunications components.
• Design, execute, and analyze experiments to improve the performance of optical fibers for fiber lasers and amplifiers.
• Work with the optical fiber fabrication team and provide input on improved fiber designs and compositions.
• Interface with teams developing fiber laser components such as optical fibers, fiber Bragg gratings, and fiber coatings to ensure complete design solutions for fiber laser systems.
• Characterize glass, fibers, and coatings, and devise methods to identify and solve technical problems.
• Assist in establishing and executing an R&D program to support Lightera manufacturing sites and provide input to the long-term technology roadmap.
• Provide technical support to the marketing and sales team and assist in understanding new business opportunities.
• Perform other related duties as required by management.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Engineering, Optics, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience in handling, characterizing, and performing data analysis on optical fibers.
• Experience with high-power fiber lasers and components such as pump and pump-signal combiners and fiber Bragg gratings is highly desired.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, preferably demonstrated by past publications or presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate in a high-technology field.
• Coursework and/or research experience in photonics and optics.
• Lab automation and computer skills.
• Ability to understand and perform numerical simulation.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and work effectively with minimal supervision.
• Maintain discretion when working with confidential and proprietary information.
• Strict adherence to Company safety policies and procedures.
• Conform to all aspects of Lightera’s “Standards of Conduct.”

Benefits

• Competitive salaries.
• Medical and dental coverage.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Matching 401(k) plan.

Employees are expected to serve as role models for safe work practices and behaviors, including following established health and safety policies and procedures, maintaining a clean and organized work area, wearing and properly storing all personal protective equipment (PPE), and actively engaging as a safety-conscious worker with personal safety and wellness as a priority.