Senior Production Test Engineer (Photonics)

A technology manufacturer is expanding its Australian engineering team and now hiring a Senior Production Test Engineer to design, develop, and own the optical test and measurement systems that characterise its products at production scale.

In this role, you will own the optical test and measurement system end to end, from concept and design through to an automated, repeatable setup running on the mass production line. You'll select and apply the right measurement approach for each parameter, weighing the strengths, limitations, and measurement impact of the instrumentation in front of you, working across tunable lasers, polarisation control, power detection, switches, couplers, and splitters, including insertion loss measurement and how effects such as PDR shape accuracy and repeatability. Just as importantly, this is a role for an engineer who understands instrumentation at the level of how it is designed and how it functions, not someone who only operates it. You can look at a commercial test system, see exactly where it falls short, and either design around the limitation or improve the system to reach the accuracy and repeatability the product demands. You move comfortably between source and detector based photonic electronic testing and more sensitive interferometer based methods, and you understand the trade offs of each, including the environmental sensitivities that come with them.

This is a full time role based in Sydney, Australia. Because the skill set is genuinely niche, the company is running a worldwide search. Visa sponsorship and relocation support can be provided. The business would rather wait for the right engineer than compromise on fit, so this is a search built around finding the best person rather than the fastest hire.

Key Responsibilities

• Design a flexible, reliable optical test and measurement system for the optical test of the company's products, then implement and automate it for a mass production environment.
• Select and apply the right measurement approach for each parameter, weighing the strengths, limitations, and measurement impact of the available instrumentation.
• Work hands-on across tunable lasers, polarisation control, power detection, switches, couplers, and splitters, including insertion loss measurement and how factors such as PDR affect measurement accuracy and repeatability.
• Evaluate commercial test systems, identify where they fall short, and either design around the limitation or improve the system to lift accuracy and repeatability.
• Apply and compare testing methodologies, including source and detector based photonic-electronic testing and interferometer-based methods, managing sensitivities such as temperature variation, vibration, and air movement.
• Specify and perform validation testing of new test and measurement systems and methods, and analyse the accuracy and repeatability of the results.
• Own routine calibration monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the test equipment.
• Identify, develop, and monitor process metrics that track yield and failure modes across the pilot production line.
• Support the transfer of production level optical test to the company's overseas manufacturing operations once the system is developed.

Requirements

• Degree in engineering or physics, with a deep and practical understanding of optical test and measurement systems.
• More than five years of experience in the optical field, ideally including exposure to a high technology manufacturing environment.
• Genuine instrumentation depth, meaning you understand how the equipment is designed and how it functions rather than only how to operate it.
• Strong technical ability paired with fluent written and verbal communication.
• Comfortable adapting to a fast-paced, results-driven environment and taking ownership of the outcome.

Desirable but not essential

• Background as an application or development engineer at a test and measurement equipment vendor such as EXFO or VIAVI.
• Experience designing optical test systems to characterise opto-electronic devices.
• Experience with SPC or other data analysis tools.
• A track record of learning quickly, taking ownership, and growing in a fast-paced engineering setting.

Please reach out to harold@profoundpeople.com.au for more info.