Freelance Fresh Graduate Chemical Engineer Jobs in Rochester, NY

If you're looking for a special place to build or grow your career, you've found it. Whether you're an experienced professional, a recent college graduate or somewhere in between, IDEX is a place where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones in an environment where you can make an impact.
With interesting opportunities in engineering, marketing, sales, supply chain, operations, HR, finance, and more across more than 40 diverse businesses around the globe, chances are, we have something special for you.
About the role:
The Optical Assembly Technician 2 performs advanced optical assembly and alignment operations requiring micron- and sub-micron-level accuracy. This role is responsible for actively aligning optical elements to mechanical housings, verifying optical and mechanical performance, and permanently securing optics using high-precision tools and metrology. Work is performed in a controlled clean-room manufacturing environment and requires significant technical skill, judgment, and independence in the execution of high-performance optical products.
Key Responsibilities:

• Perform active alignment of lenses and optical elements into metal housings using precision fixturing.
• Use alignment and metrology tools such as air-bearing spindles, autocollimators, alignment telescopes, precision stages, and indicators to achieve required tolerances.
• Adjust decenter, tip, tilt, and axial position to meet defined optical and mechanical specifications.
• Apply adhesives and permanently secure optics while maintaining alignment during cure.
• Inspect optical elements for defects including scratches, digs, chips, and coating defects.
• Inspect machined metal housings for burrs, surface damage, and dimensional inconsistencies.
• Evaluate cosmetic and functional acceptability using defined optical inspection criteria.
• Determine fitness-for-use of optics and hardware prior to assembly and escalate issues as required.
• Measure critical features using high-precision metrology tools including micrometers, bore gauges, comparators, and dial indicators.
• Verify alignment results and dimensional stability before, during, and after bonding.
• Independently troubleshoot alignment and assembly challenges, including tolerance stack-up, fixture inaccuracies, part variability, and contamination.
• Adapt alignment and assembly techniques within controlled parameters when documented processes are incomplete or ambiguous.
• Partner with engineering and quality to resolve complex assembly issues.
• Accurately document alignment data, measurements, and final build conditions.
• Provide technical feedback to support process improvement, yield enhancement, and design for manufacturability.
• Support root-cause investigations and corrective actions related to optical assembly issues.
• Maintain high standards of workmanship, repeatability, and discipline in clean-room operations.

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical certification, associate degree, or equivalent advanced vocational training in optics, precision manufacturing, or a related technical field preferred.
• 3-5 years of hands-on experience in precision optical assembly, active optical alignment, or optical metrology.
• Demonstrated experience achieving micron-level alignment accuracy in a production or laboratory manufacturing environment.
• Experience working independently on complex, high-precision optical assemblies with limited supervision.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Strong understanding of optical principles, precision measurement, and mechanical tolerancing.
• Proficiency with advanced optical alignment and metrology equipment.
• Ability to interpret optical and mechanical drawings, specifications, and tolerances.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exercise technical judgment within defined quality systems.
• Ability to document complex alignment data clearly and accurately.
• Ability to communicate technical issues and observations effectively with engineering and quality teams.
• Demonstrates accountability, adaptability, and disciplined execution in a precision manufacturing environment.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in a clean-room manufacturing environment.
• Requires compliance with defined gowning and contamination-control protocols.
• Involves handling delicate optical components and precision-machined hardware.
• Requires sustained visual focus and fine motor control for detailed alignment tasks.
• May involve extended periods of sitting or standing.
• Requires compliance with ESD and chemical-handling safety requirements.

Additional Requirement:
Certain positions with IDEX Corporation and its business units require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations. Applicants for these positions may need to be U.S. Persons. Generally, a U.S. Person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or an individual who has been granted refugee or asylum status.
Are you ready to join a different kind of company where our people, our culture, and our commitments are centered around providing trusted solutions that improve lives around the world?
Total Rewards
The compensation range for this position is $48,000.00 - $72,000.00, depending on experience. This position may be eligible for performance based bonus plan.
Benefits Package
Our comprehensive U.S. benefit offerings include: Health benefits, 401(k) retirement savings program with company match, PTO, and more. More information on our benefits and rewards can be found on our career page: https://www.idexcorp.com/careers/our-benefits-and-rewards/
IDEX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IDEX gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other consideration or protected category made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.
Attention Applicants: If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, please let us know. Likewise, if you are limited in the ability to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, we will determine an alternate way for you to apply. Please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at lfcareers@idexcorp.com for assistance with an accommodation. These contact tools may be used only by individuals with a disability for accommodation requests. Do not inquire as to the status of an application.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
Artificial intelligence is not used to screen, assess or select applicants.