Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer, Sea-Bird Scientific

Position Overview

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Salary: $130,000 to $160,000 annually

Position Type: Full-time, onsite in Bellevue, Washington

Education Required: Engineering degree with deep expertise in opto-mechanical design

Experience Required: Senior-level technical leadership in optics and opto-mechanical engineering for production hardware

Description

Sea-Bird Scientific is hiring a Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer in Bellevue, Washington, on a full-time onsite basis with a salary range of $130,000 to $160,000.

Sea-Bird Scientific is the world’s largest developer and manufacturer of products for measuring salinity, temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence, nutrients, and other oceanographic parameters in marine waters. Its instruments are deployed by ocean researchers, resource managers, ocean observing programs, government agencies, and industries engaged in offshore exploration, supporting research that ranges from documenting the ocean’s role in climate change to monitoring environmental impacts of major events such as oil spills and tsunamis.

Reporting to the Director of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, the Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer serves as Sea-Bird’s technical lead within Engineering on optics and opto-mechanical design. The role collaborates closely with the Science Team and external partners on technology and new product development projects involving optical sensing, oversees the design of next-generation optical sensors, and mentors engineers and technicians.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyse opto-mechanical assemblies and optical systems that satisfy high-precision alignment requirements.
• Bring products from concept through prototype, development, qualification, pilot run, and mass production.
• Evaluate and select opto-mechanical components.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams and vendors to package optics in reliable, manufacturable, low-cost, and high-yield modules.
• Characterise solutions for optical performance, stability, repeatability, and reliability through experiments and structured test plans.
• Troubleshoot complex opto-electro-mechanical development and production problems.
• Complete technical documents including design specifications, test reports, BOMs, work instructions, and characterisation reports.
• Serve as subject matter expert on emerging technologies and tools.
• Mentor and cross-train engineers and technicians.
• Drive complex technical problem solving across optics and opto-mechanical design.

Requirements

• Engineering degree (mechanical, optical, or related discipline).
• Senior-level experience in opto-mechanical design for production hardware.
• Demonstrated experience taking products from concept through mass production.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and technical communication skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and external vendors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in oceanographic instrumentation or marine sensors.
• Experience with optical sensing in harsh environments such as deep-sea deployments.
• Track record of mentoring junior engineers.

Additional Notes

• Position is onsite in Bellevue, Washington.
• Benefits include flexible working hours, professional onboarding, career coaching, health benefits, and 401(k).
• Sea-Bird Scientific is an EEO and AA employer.

How to Apply

Apply through the Sea-Bird Scientific careers portal.

Required application materials:

• Resume detailing opto-mechanical engineering experience and product development track record.
• Cover letter expressing interest in oceanographic instrumentation and the Senior Engineer role.
• References on request.