Clera
From company careers site
Senior Optical Engineer, R&D
- Location
- San Francisco
- Work mode
- On-site
- Employment type
- Full-time
About the job
ABOUT THE ROLE
Join the R&D team at a defense technology startup developing autonomous directed-energy systems. You will lead optical system design and investigations, applying deep optical expertise to turn designs into robust hardware.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Lead optical design and analysis for core system components.
- Drive optical investigations, trade studies, and system-level design decisions.
- Specify and evaluate optical components and subsystem architectures.
- Partner with mechanical engineers on packaging, housing, and system integration.
- Conduct tolerance analysis, performance validation, and design iteration.
- Guide alignment, characterization, and testing of integrated optical systems.
- Work with vendors and fabricators on feasibility, tolerancing, and manufacturability.
- Establish best practices for optical development, validation, and technical documentation.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Typically 5 to 10 or more years of senior-level experience in optical engineering, optical design, or related physics-based systems work.
- Demonstrated experience designing and analyzing optical systems that were built and operated as hardware, including alignment, characterization, and hands-on debugging.
- Strong command of optical theory and experience leading investigations and trade studies that inform system-level decisions.
- Experience specifying and evaluating optical components, performing tolerance analysis and validation, and working with vendors or fabricators.
- Working familiarity with mechanical packaging and integration, and experience collaborating across engineering disciplines.
- Experience with high-power laser optics, ruggedized beam delivery, beam directors, collimators, fast steering mirrors, adaptive optics, or laser communication terminals is relevant.
- Experience with Zemax/OpticStudio or Code V, and approximately 1 micron fiber laser systems, is valuable.
- BS or MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Base salary: $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.
LOCATION
On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.
From Clera's careers page (Ashby), checked 27 Oct 2026.
How to apply
- Select Apply on getclera.com. It opens Clera's own application form in a new tab, run on Ashby.
- Fill in the form and upload your résumé there. Jobiwork never sees your application.
- Clera will reply to you directly. No real employer asks you for money to apply.
Posted 21 Oct 2026 · checked 27 Oct 2026 · Report this job
