Optics Engineer — Scanner Developer, Optics

At 3Shape we improve treatment and diagnostics for dental patients through innovative software and 3D scanners for dental professionals worldwide. A quarter of our staff work in R&D.

Your role

Our scanners have to work the same way in thousands of dental clinics as they do on an optical bench in Copenhagen. This role bridges the gap from optical concepts to solutions that can be manufactured, calibrated, verified, and released. You will join the optics team in R&D and own the optical subsystem in one or more scanner development projects at a time. Depending on the project, this means designing it yourself, or defining specifications for a development partner to build, then verifying the result. Finally, you will be responsible that the optical subsystem will work in the product.

Much of the work takes place where design meets real-world implementation: what tolerance mechanics can eventually hold, what a supplier can deliver at volume and at cost, what calibration needs from the optics, and what to do when the measurement disagrees with the model. You will work in a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electronics, embedded software and test engineers alongside production engineering, quality and regulatory colleagues. Success in this role depends on your ability to collaborate effectively across these functions.

Day to day you will:

• Design, model and dimension optical imaging and illumination systems

• Specify optical components and modules for production by external partners

• Build and measure prototypes, interpret and act on measured results

• Run tolerance analyses in collaboration with mechanical engineers, and communicate evidence-based recommendations

• Work with software and electronics engineers on calibration and image quality

• Collaborate with optics suppliers and development partners, from feasibility through qualification

• Write the specifications, analyses and verification evidence a medical device requires

Within the optics team, early concept work and lifecycle support of our released scanners fall under the responsibility of other colleagues. This role covers the stretch in between — the projects on their way to becoming products. Technical direction is set together with our principal and senior engineers, so you will have experienced sparring partners close at hand.

Your profile

We care considerably more about how you work than about which degree you hold. The engineer we are looking for:

• Gets satisfaction from things that ship and keep working

• Decides with incomplete information, and takes it well when a measurement later proves the decision wrong

• Treats cost, tolerances, manufacturability and regulatory requirements as part of the design problem

• Works out optical requirements together with mechanical and electronics engineers

• Writes clearly, because in a medical device the documentation is part of the product

• Knows when an optical system is good enough, and balances technical perfection with project needs and timelines

Background we expect:

• A degree in engineering physics, photonics, optical engineering, physics or a comparable field — B.Sc., M.Sc., or equivalent competence built on the job

• A few years developing physical products that successfully transferred to manufacturing, which we value as highly as years of optics experience on their own

• Solid optical fundamentals: geometrical optics, radiometry, image quality and tolerancing

• Able to model and interrogate an optical design in a ray tracing tool — enough to lay out a system yourself, and enough to challenge a design someone else produced

• Strong on measurement and lab work: building and aligning setups, characterizing externally supplied subsystems to judge whether they meet specifications

• Scripting for analysis and data handling (Python, MATLAB or similar)

The role is based at our Copenhagen office. Prototypes, test setups, and the colleagues you will daily interact with are on site, so this is predominantly on-site work, with the option of one day a week remote. Travel is limited, typically a handful of days per year to suppliers and to our production site in Poland.

We offer

In 3Shape R&D we are proud of our diverse, ambitious and highly skilled colleagues. Working for 3Shape means joining one of the most successful MedTech companies and making a real impact. We offer:

• A chance to impact the treatments of millions of dental patients, globally

• Innovative technology in a true R&D focused company, with room to stay at the edge of what is possible

• Empowerment and entrepreneurial thinking: we believe the best results are achieved by empowering our people and teams

• Sparring, coaching, feedback and a personal development plan to sharpen your toolbox

• Highly skilled and motivated colleagues in an international atmosphere (30+ nationalities in our building)

• An attractive and informal work environment in downtown Copenhagen, with a good work/life balance, breakfast every day, lunch cooked by our own chefs, and many optional social clubs

Read more about us at https://careers.3shape.com/#vacancies

We encourage all relevant applicants to apply. We are committed to celebrating human diversity, and we trust that the best way to reach outstanding business results, is by welcoming diverse people into our community.

About us

3Shape started with a simple idea - to make 3D scanning better. First, we applied it to the hearing industry, then we succeeded in dentistry. Twenty years later, 3Shape has 2,000+ employees globally. With the help of dental professionals and amazing colleagues we’re creating award-winning scanning and CAD/CAM solutions to change dentistry together! Together, we contribute to a better world. Experience the everyday #lifeat3Shape across the globe on LinkedIn.