Optical Lab Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Electro-Optical Technician
Santa Clara, CA(Onsite)
The Opportunity
We are seeking a hands-on Electro-Optical Technician to support electrical board rework, troubleshooting, board bring-up, test, and assembly of next-generation spectroscopy platforms and gas measurement products.
Picarro's products deliver real-time measurements of critical gases at parts-per-billion and parts-per-trillion levels. As an Electro-Optical Technician, you will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and test teams to bring up prototype and production circuit boards, perform precision board-level rework, troubleshoot electrical and electro-optical issues, and support the integration of electronics into high-performance CRDS instruments. Optical assembly experience is valuable in this role, but the primary focus is hands-on electronics support, board debug, and reliable execution in the lab.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented technician with strong hands-on experience in PCB rework, electrical troubleshooting, board bring-up, and lab-based hardware support. They are comfortable working under a microscope, replacing fine-pitch components, probing analog and digital circuits, using standard electrical test equipment, and documenting issues clearly. This person can follow schematics, assembly drawings, test procedures, and engineering direction while also applying practical judgment to isolate faults and recommend next steps. Experience with optical assemblies, fiber handling, alignment, or precision mechanical assembly is important and will be used regularly.
Key Responsibilities
Support the building, rework, bring-up, troubleshooting, and integration of electro-optical hardware for Picarro's CRDS products. Perform board-level rework and repairs, assist with prototype and pilot builds, execute electrical tests, document findings, support root-cause investigations, and contribute to reliable handoff of hardware, processes, and test methods into manufacturing.
Technical Expertise:

• PCB Rework and Repair: Perform high-quality board-level rework, including component removal and replacement, jumper wires, trace repairs, connector work, fine-pitch soldering, and microscope-based inspection.
• Board Bring-Up: Support first-power-on, functional checkout, calibration setup, and debug of prototype and production PCB assemblies using engineering instructions and test procedures.
• Electrical Troubleshooting: Use schematics, layout files, DMMs, oscilloscopes, power supplies, signal generators, and other lab equipment to diagnose board-level and system-level electrical problems.
• Electro-Optical Integration: Install, connect, and test electronics within electro-optical assemblies, including detector boards, laser-related electronics, cables, harnesses, sensors, and related hardware.
• Test, Debug, and Root Cause Support: Execute engineering tests, collect data, record observations, help isolate failure modes, and support corrective actions for build, rework, and bring-up issues.
• Optical and Precision Assembly Support: Support optical assembly, fiber handling, alignment, adhesive bonding, mechanical assembly, and clean handling practices as needed for electro-optical systems.
• Prototype and Pilot Build Support: Assist with prototype builds, pilot builds, ECO implementation, fixture setup, cable and harness work, and transition of repeatable processes into manufacturing.
• Documentation and Communication: Maintain clear rework records, bring-up notes, test results, nonconformance details, and build documentation; communicate issues and status clearly to engineering and manufacturing teams.

Qualifications and Experience

• Associate degree, technical certificate, military electronics training, or equivalent hands-on experience in electronics, electro-mechanical assembly, test, or related technical work.
• Typically 3+ years of hands-on experience with PCB rework, electronics troubleshooting, board bring-up, prototype builds, test, or electro-optical hardware support.
• Demonstrated ability to read schematics, follow assembly drawings and test procedures, identify component-level issues, and work safely around powered electronics.
• Strong soldering and rework skills, including surface-mount components, fine-pitch devices, connectors, wires, and microscope-based inspection.
• Practical experience using DMMs, oscilloscopes, bench power supplies, signal generators, electronic loads, microscopes, hand tools, and basic lab equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting discipline, including the ability to isolate problems, compare against expected behavior, document observations, and escalate findings clearly.
• Good communication, organization, and documentation skills, with the ability to work effectively with engineers, technicians, manufacturing, and quality teams.
• Experience supporting prototype builds, pilot builds, ECO implementation, manufacturing transfer, or early production troubleshooting is strongly desired.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with analog circuits, low-noise electronics, photodetectors, laser driver electronics, ADC/DAC circuits, sensors, or precision instrumentation.
• Experience with optical assembly, fiber handling, lens or mirror alignment, adhesive bonding, clean handling, CRDS instruments, or laser-based spectroscopy systems.

The base salary range for this full-time position is $55K to $75K. Our total compensation packages include base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity. Your base salary range and title will be determined based on the location, experience, qualifications, skills, knowledge, level, and pay of employees in similar positions.
We offer a comprehensive benefit package including:
Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
Employee Referral Program
401K
Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu-shots, etc.)
About Picarro:
We are the world's leader in timely, trusted, and actionable data using enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including natural gas leak detection, ethylene oxide emissions monitoring, semiconductor fabrication, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. Our software and hardware are designed and manufactured in Santa Clara, California and are used in over 90 countries worldwide based on over 65 patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology and are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, and reliability.
At Picarro, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.
At Picarro, we strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact Picarro, Inc. at disabilityassistance@picarro.com for assistance.