Senior NPI Optical Engineer

At Nautilus, we have a big and important mission: improve the health of millions by unleashing the potential of the proteome to accelerate drug development and enable a new world of precision and personalized medicine. We are developing a single-molecule protein analysis platform of unprecedented sensitivity, scale, and ease of use that we believe will democratize access to the proteome – one of the most dynamic and valuable sources of biological insight. To accomplish this, we are pursuing deep, hard science with an entrepreneurial mindset and creating a world-class team of builders, innovators, and dreamers across a wide range of disciplines.

We are seeking a highly motivated hands on Senior NPI Engineer – Optics with expertise in biotechnology hardware to join our instrument operations team. The ideal candidate will play a key role in scaling and optimizing the production of our proteomics platform. The candidate will collaborate with R&D, supply chain and contract manufacturing to ensure the highest product quality and most efficient production. This role involves transferring subassembly designs from R&D, developing and refining manufacturing processes, troubleshooting hardware issues, and driving continuous improvements in production efficiency and reliability.

Responsibilities

Partner with R&D on new product introductions (NPI), ensuring smooth handoff from development to production

Design, develop, and optimize manufacturing processes for optical assemblies, including lens systems, illumination modules, laser subsystems, and camera integrations used in biotech instrumentation

Test, calibrate, and align optical modules, camera systems, and laser components to ensure performance meets design specifications and production tolerances

Develop and maintain calibration procedures, alignment protocols, and acceptance criteria for optical and laser subsystems

Establish and maintain process documentation including SOPs, work instructions, traveler sheets, and control plans

Develop and implement fixtures, tooling, and automated assembly aids to improve yield, repeatability, and throughput

Proficiency in design for manufacturability and reliability.

Qualify new manufacturing processes and equipment; write and execute IQ/OQ/PQ protocols in compliance with ISO 13485 or FDA 21 CFR Part 820 requirements

Evaluates manufacturing processes by designing and conducting production failure modes and effect analysis

Support supplier qualification and incoming inspection criteria for optical components such as mirrors, prisms, filters, fiber optics, and coated optics

Assures product and process quality by designing testing methods.

Prepares product and process reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.

Completes design and development projects by training and guiding technicians.

Requirements

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field

5–7 years of experience in a manufacturing or process engineering role, preferably in medical devices, diagnostics, or life sciences instrumentation

Working knowledge of optical principles: geometric optics, alignment techniques, fiber coupling, interferometry, or spectroscopy preferred

Familiarity with optical alignment and characterization equipment (autocollimators, interferometers, optical power meters, spectrometers)

Experience with precision assembly techniques in cleanroom or controlled environments

Proficiency with GD&T, engineering drawings, and CAD tools (SolidWorks or equivalent)

Understanding of quality management systems — ISO 13485, FDA QSR, or GMP manufacturing environments

Hands-on experience with statistical process control (SPC), DOE, and FMEA methodologies

Strong problem-solving skills with a bias toward data-driven decision-making

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with fluorescence-based imaging, flow cytometry, PCR instrumentation, or similar biotech platforms

Familiarity with automated optical inspection (AOI) or machine vision systems

Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification

Familiarity with Arena and NetSuite

Nautilus Team Culture

We are determined to do whatever it takes to get our platform into the hands of researchers who will use it to upend the status quo in basic research and healthcare.

We work on cross functional teams, wear many hats, take risks to work through uncertainty, enjoy working collaboratively on challenging problems, and celebrate one another’s victories.

We go above and beyond, but also strive to provide a supportive atmosphere of colleagues who are willing to lend a helping hand and make working at Nautilus not only fulfilling in its end goals, but enjoyable on a day-to-day basis.

Our Values:

Be Excellent

Be a Good Human

Catalyze Customer Success

Dream Big

Drive for Results

Enjoy the Voyage

Succeed as One Team