Jobs at Thorlabs, Inc.

Leads multidisciplinary engineering teams developing photonics components and complex systems. Oversees design, system integration, validation, manufacturing readiness, and production ramp while applying DFM/DFA, ISO processes, PLM, documentation, and change control. Manages schedules, risks, deliverables, performance, and team development, partnering closely with R&D, manufacturing engineering, and operations to deliver scalable, reliable products.

Coordinates and delivers in-person and virtual photonics learning events, including technical lectures, laboratory demonstrations, equipment setup, and staff training. Collaborates with event, marketing, content, and technical teams to improve educational materials and expand learning programs. Builds relationships with universities, tracks event KPIs, gathers feedback, and develops strategies to increase program reach. Requires extensive photonics laboratory, STEM education, and technical presentation experience, plus fluency in English and Spanish.

Analyze business processes, identify automation opportunities, and design, develop, test, implement, and maintain workflows, scripts, and bots. Integrate solutions with enterprise applications and infrastructure, monitor performance, troubleshoot issues, and continuously optimize automation processes. Document solutions, provide user training and support, and ensure compliance with security policies and regulations while collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.

Supports new product introduction from prototype through release by reviewing requirements, procuring pilot-run components, assisting manufacturing builds, testing software and firmware, updating documentation and BOMs, and supporting packaging, pricing, marketing, sales, and customers. The role also improves manufacturability, manages NPI inventory transactions, creates compliant product markings, and coordinates cross-functional project activities. A U.S. person is required for work involving ITAR products.

Maintain the purchase ledger and process supplier invoices, reconcile vendor statements, prepare payment runs and remittances, assist month-end close (aging reports, reconciliations), post outgoings (credit card, expenses, petty cash) and resolve supplier queries while supporting the Accounts team.

Lead supplier quality improvement through audits, corrective action plans, root cause analysis, and supplier development. Partner with Quality, Purchasing, Engineering, and supply chain teams to prevent defects, reduce variation, improve delivery, and implement Lean and continuous improvement tools. Conduct supplier visits, interpret high-precision engineering drawings, monitor quality KPIs, and verify sustained corrective actions. The role supports low-volume, high-mix manufacturing and requires strong supplier relationship, technical problem-solving, and project collaboration skills.

Develops electronics for precision microscope systems and scientific instruments, taking designs from concept through prototyping, debugging, testing, and manufacturing. Responsibilities include electro-opto and electromechanical design, circuit simulation, documentation, vendor and contract manufacturer management, troubleshooting, test fixture development, and production support. The role collaborates with global cross-functional teams and occasionally engages customers, sales, and field service personnel.

Purchases materials, maintains forecasts and inventory levels, manages purchase orders and vendor communications, supports manufacturing production, and coordinates inventory control activities. The role also handles vendor returns, office purchasing, ERP document releases, process improvement, cost reduction initiatives, SOP development, and administrative coordination for meetings and events.

Leads global IT infrastructure engineering and local service management teams. Oversees enterprise cloud, network, systems, service delivery, incident management, security, disaster recovery, vendors, budgets, and modernization initiatives. Establishes operational metrics and service standards, aligns technology strategy with business needs, manages infrastructure performance and availability, and develops technical leaders and teams across a global, multi-site organization.

Leads enterprise analytics engineering by designing semantic models, governing KPIs and metric definitions, and enabling trusted self-service reporting. Partners with business stakeholders, Data Engineering, and IT to translate business needs into scalable analytical frameworks and reliable data assets. Establishes governance, documentation, validation, and change-management practices while supporting advanced analytics and AI/ML readiness. Supervises analytics personnel through coaching, performance management, and professional development.

The Editorial Content Strategist oversees technical content quality, accuracy, branding, and timely publication across Thorlabs’ ecommerce and marketing channels. Responsibilities include editorial review, website updates, content strategy and roadmaps, coaching science writers, project oversight, user experience improvements, and data-informed SEO and placement decisions. The role collaborates with technical, marketing, engineering, and business stakeholders and requires extensive photonics expertise, exceptional writing and editing skills, and strong project management abilities.

Compiles and controls engineering and production documentation in the ERP system, including data entry, revisions, change orders, document reviews, and action-item tracking. Places purchase orders, expedites deliveries, schedules production orders, monitors MRP inventory levels, coordinates with vendors, generates reports, and supports administrative workflows. The role requires strong organization, attention to detail, communication, problem-solving, and independent task management. It is a full-time temporary position through February 2027, with travel of up to 10%.

Design, prototype, test, and document optomechanical components and instrumentation under supervision. Support vendor sourcing, manufacturability, validation testing, cross-functional coordination, and production troubleshooting.

Supports purchasing, production planning, forecasting, inventory control, scheduling, product availability and lead-time calculations for an assigned business unit. Expedites purchase orders, manages purchasing and planning data, prepares reports, and contributes to process improvement and cost-reduction initiatives. The role also assists with safety stock, forecasts, build and order sizes, bills of materials, and manufacturing routes.

Support and improve metrology equipment and test methods for optical product manufacturing. Develop training, create/maintain test documentation and fixtures, troubleshoot production issues, assist in product transfers, collaborate on root cause analyses, and implement corrective actions to improve manufacturability and quality.

Design, develop, and support embedded electronics and firmware for scientific imaging and microscope systems. Own hardware from architecture through PCB layout, prototyping, validation, and production release. Develop firmware in C/C++, perform circuit simulation and lab verification, integrate multi-discipline subsystems, design manufacturing test plans, troubleshoot system-level issues, and support transfer to manufacturing while mentoring junior engineers.

Programs, sets up, and operates CNC mills and lathes for complex prototype components. Uses GibbsCAM and manual G-code/M-code programming, interprets drawings and geometric tolerances, machines precision tooling and fixtures, inspects finished parts, troubleshoots equipment, performs maintenance, improves processes, and mentors Level I machinists. The role requires expertise with multi-axis machining, materials, tight tolerances, prototype fabrication, and CNC controls.

Coordinates and schedules assembly production for precision optomechanical devices. Develops production plans, releases manufacturing orders, monitors inventory, updates planning parameters, identifies shortages and stock-out risks, and determines order quantities based on demand and capacity. Uses Dynamics 365 F&O and ERP/MRP systems while collaborating with purchasing and production teams to expedite components and maintain efficient, quality-compliant workflows.

Designs, deploys, administers, monitors, and troubleshoots enterprise network systems, including WAN/LAN, cloud services, VoIP, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless failover, Microsoft networking services, and IoT devices. The role manages network projects, patching, documentation, security standards, compliance, vendor coordination, automation, end-user support, training, and team mentoring. Occasional work at other locations, off-hours support, weekends, and international travel may be required.

Develop and maintain production schedules for assembly and in-house machining to meet customer delivery dates. Balance MRP demand, inventory, and capacity; manage ERP/MRP parameters; monitor production KPIs; support NPI, obsolescence and transfers to in-house manufacture; apply lean problem-solving and continuous improvement; liaise with Production, Engineering, Stores and Sales to ensure uninterrupted product flow.