Job Description
Job Description
The Senior Photonics and Vision Systems Engineer is a critical hands-on R&D role responsible for the design, development, integration, and validation of optical, photonic, and imaging subsystems for next-generation medical devices. This role is central to building and evolving our imaging hardware and low-level firmware, from early benchtop prototypes through production-ready designs.
This position is based in our office in Eden Prairie, MN and relocation assistance is not provided.
The role will be part of a highly collaborative, fast-paced R&D environment alongside electrical, mechanical, software, and clinical teams. This position requires deep practical expertise in optics, sensors, and imaging systems, with a strong bias toward experimental work, rapid prototyping, and lab-based development. The successful candidate will take ownership of setting up, maintaining, and operating an optics and imaging test laboratory, and will play a key role in translating system-level requirements into robust, manufacturable imaging solutions.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical Leadership and Strategy:
- Lead technical development of optical, photonic, and camera/vision subsystems for medical imaging applications.
- Define imaging system architectures, performance targets, and test methodologies.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and technicians working on imaging hardware, optics, and firmware.
- Guide technology selection decisions for sensors, optics, illumination, and processing pipelines.
Optical, Photonics, and Imaging Engineering:
- Design, prototype, and integrate imaging systems including sensors, optics, illumination sources, filters, and opto-mechanical components.
- Review and approve technical designs, specifications, and test plans related to optical and imaging subsystems.
- Evaluate and select image sensors, camera modules, and illumination technologies (LED, laser, NIR, multispectral).
- Develop and refine optical layouts, ray-based concepts, and system-level performance trade-offs.
- Work closely with mechanical engineering to ensure robust opto-mechanical integration, alignment, and tolerance control.
- Support design for manufacturability, serviceability, and scalability of optical assemblies.
Embedded Firmware and Image Acquisition:
- Develop and support Linux-based drivers and low-level firmware for image acquisition, sensor configuration, timing, synchronization, and data transfer.
- Interface imaging hardware with embedded processors, FPGAs, or SoCs using MIPI, SPI, I²C, LVDS, or similar protocols.
- Support bring-up and debugging of prototype imaging hardware and firmware in the lab.
Testing, Validation, and Lab Ownership:
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve an optics, radiometry, and imaging test laboratory providing turnkey internal capabilities for development, testing, and safety verification.
- Define and execute optical, radiometric, and image-quality test plans (e.g., MTF, SNR, uniformity, spectral response, stray light).
- Design and build custom test fixtures, alignment tools, and experimental setups.
- Perform hands-on testing, troubleshooting, failure analysis, and root cause investigations.
- Analyze test data to guide design iteration and performance optimization.
- Support verification and validation activities to meet product, regulatory, and quality requirements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration of imaging subsystems.
- Interface with suppliers and vendors for sensors, optics, illumination components, and test equipment.
- Support R&D cost estimates for imaging components, lab equipment, and tooling.
Documentation and Compliance:
- Create and maintain clear documentation of imaging designs, test methods, calibration procedures, and validation results.
- Support regulatory submissions and audits by providing traceable design and test documentation.
- Ensure imaging subsystems comply with relevant medical device standards and guidance (e.g., IEC 62471, IEC 60601, ISO 13485).
- Participate in design reviews, risk analyses, and design history file (DHF) activities.
- Ensure product designs meet safety, EMC, environmental, and industry compliance standards (e.g., UL, CE, FCC, ISO).
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Support technical discussions with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and internal stakeholders.
- Assist with product launches, field issue investigations, and post-market support as needed.
- Translate clinical, system, and business requirements into actionable imaging engineering specifications.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related field (Master’s or PhD preferred).
- 5+ years of experience in optical, photonics, imaging, or vision system development (medical device experience strongly preferred).
- Proven hands-on experience designing, building, and testing camera, vision, or imaging systems.
- Strong understanding of image sensors, optics, illumination, and image-quality metrics.
- Experience with optical test methods and instrumentation (radiometry, photometry, imaging targets). Hands-on experience setting up and running laboratory experiments and test benches.
- Experience developing or supporting embedded firmware for imaging systems.
- Familiarity with common imaging interfaces and protocols (e.g., MIPI CSI-2, SPI, I²C). Working knowledge of optical design and analysis tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V) is a plus.
- Proficiency with data analysis and scripting tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
- Hands-on experience with test equipment (e.g., power meters, spectrophotometers, radiometers, oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies) and test automation tools.
- Familiarity with photobiological and optical safety standards applicable to medical imaging systems (e.g., IEC 62471, laser safety per IEC 60825, and related risk assessment practices).
- Able to function with urgency in high-pressure situations.
- Excellent verbal, written communication, especially with development and quality teams.
- Demonstrated business acumen with the proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment.
- Early stage/start up experience strongly preferred.