Senior Equipment Engineer

Location

• Camas
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Summary

The Senior Equipment Engineer provides technical leadership and lifecycle ownership for equipment supporting high-volume laser production. This role drives equipment reliability, qualification, maintenance, troubleshooting, upgrades, and continuous improvement while partnering with Manufacturing, Process, Quality, Facilities, EHS, automation, customers, and suppliers. The position also leads complex root-cause investigations, ensures compliance with safety and quality requirements, mentors technical personnel, and supports production objectives across multiple shifts.

Responsibilities

• Manages the equipment lifecycle for nLIGHT-built and procured equipment, including spare-parts strategies and obsolescence planning.
• Partners with customers on contract manufacturing lines to install, qualify, and maintain customer-owned equipment in accordance with contract requirements, including service and spare-parts strategies.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to improve nLIGHT’s business systems related to equipment management, including compliance, calibration, repairs, and ticketing systems.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with key equipment suppliers.
• Collaborates with project teams to qualify new equipment and place it into service.
• Responds to production escalations, including defined after-hours or on-call expectations.
• Leads complex troubleshooting and root-cause investigations using methods such as 8D, DMAIC, fault-tree analysis, or FMEA.
• Develops preventive and predictive maintenance plans and improves equipment reliability.
• Writes and maintains equipment specifications, qualification protocols, acceptance criteria, work instructions, and technical documentation.
• Partners with Manufacturing, Process, Quality, Facilities, EHS, IT/automation, and technicians.
• Ensures equipment meets applicable safety, regulatory, calibration, quality-system, and change-control requirements.
• Leads equipment installation, factory and site acceptance testing, commissioning, validation, and handoff to production.
• Manages equipment upgrades, retrofits, automation, controls, and continuous-improvement projects.
• Mentors junior engineers and technicians and provides technical leadership across shifts.
• Manages vendors, service contracts, quotations, scope, schedule, budget, and installation performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or a closely related field, plus five years of experience supporting high-volume, multi-shift production lines; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with optical metrology, optical benches, and/or electrical test stations.
• Understanding of measurement systems analysis and gauge repeatability and reproducibility (GR&R).
• Detailed understanding of equipment metrics and practices, including uptime, calibration, preventive maintenance, spare-parts management, obsolescence planning, risk management, and strategies for tools that represent a single point of failure.
• Demonstrated project ownership and a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
• Strong record of problem-solving and data analysis using structured methodologies.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics and mechanical drawings, with knowledge of basic tooling and fixture design.
• Experience with data analysis and experimental design.
• Experience with PLCs, motion control, machine vision, robotics, data acquisition, or equipment software/interfaces.
• Familiarity with CAPA, 8D, Lean, and Six Sigma tools.
• Ability to interpret specifications, drawings, schematics, P&IDs, and control-system documentation.
• Ability to learn quickly and take on new projects and issues to support production.
• Ability to adapt and use limited resources effectively to achieve results and meet schedules.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in electrical engineering, materials science, optics, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• Six or more years of experience in precision optics assembly and testing.
• Knowledge of optical fibers, fiber assemblies, optics, laser diodes, testing, especially data analysis, and a variety of metrology, characterization, and failure-analysis tools.
• Experience with the following processes and equipment is preferred: optical test benches; die attach and bonding; wire and ribbon bonding; vacuum solder-reflow ovens; optical fiber alignment; hermetic seam sealing; solder and epoxies; and electro-optical, electro-pneumatic, and fluid-cooling systems.

Physical and Work Environment Requirement

• Work is performed in office, laboratory, cleanroom, and manufacturing environments and requires regular interaction with production equipment and personnel.
• Ability to move throughout manufacturing areas and perform work while standing, walking, bending, reaching, crouching, or working in confined equipment areas.
• Ability to use a computer and hand tools and to perform close visual inspection and detailed technical work for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 25 pounds independently and heavier equipment components with appropriate assistance or lifting devices.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses and cleanroom attire, and to follow applicable laser, electrical, chemical, lockout/tagout, and equipment-safety procedures.
• May be exposed to moderate noise, moving mechanical parts, electrical systems, lasers, chemicals, compressed gases, and temperature variations within controlled operational limits.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.