Weekend Optical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This role focuses on designing, modeling, analyzing, prototyping, and developing advanced opto-mechanical systems, including laser, imaging, illumination, and precision optical mounting solutions, with applications in areas such as medical devices. The engineer will take concepts from design through validation and transfer to manufacturing, working closely with multidisciplinary teams in a highly regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Design precision opto-mechanical and structural assemblies and product chassis, ensuring they meet specifications and can be effectively manufactured.
• Create and refine designs for laser, imaging, illumination, and precision optical mounting systems for use in applications such as medical devices.
• Work with vendors to have opto-mechanical and structural assemblies manufactured, including providing clear specifications and collaborating on manufacturability.
• Set up optical and mechanical assemblies in the lab, ensure availability of required components, and test functionality to confirm performance.
• Design, develop, and help implement a manufacturing validation strategy that addresses product, process, and test methods, leading to release into manufacturing.
• Perform detailed analysis to ensure product performance, reliability, and manufacturability, and document all design, development, and validation activities.
• Produce comprehensive design packages for vendors, including optical and mechanical drawings with specifications, tolerances, and special process steps.
• Provide innovative engineering solutions and direct technical support to help achieve design project milestones on schedule.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Clinical functions, to incorporate cross-functional input into designs.
• Apply design for manufacturability, assembly, and reliability principles, including considerations for thermal performance, vibration, and shock.
• Support manufacturing process development for medical equipment and contribute to design control activities, including verification, validation, and design transfer.
• Operate within the requirements of a highly regulated industry, adhering to relevant standards and procedures.
• Demonstrate independent problem-solving skills by addressing complex design and engineering challenges with minimal assistance while leveraging team input.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (BS ME).
• Minimum of 5+ years of optical design experience.
• Ability to design optical systems using Code V (Code 5) or Zemax.
• Strong experience in optical design and optical engineering, including laser, imaging, illumination, and optical components.
• Proficiency in designing enclosures, structural and mechanical components, heat transfer elements, scanner systems, precision machined components, die cast parts, and plastic components.
• Strong skills in SolidWorks or similar CAD tools, including top-down design, assemblies, and component design.
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) to support structural and thermal evaluations.
• Proficiency in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex design and engineering problems with minimal assistance.
• Experience applying design for manufacturability, assembly, and reliability, including thermal, vibration, and shock considerations.
• Experience with manufacturing process development for medical equipment.
• Knowledge of design control processes, including verification, validation, and design transfer.
• Experience working within a highly regulated industry.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment, collaborating with multidisciplinary stakeholders.

• Experience producing detailed optical and mechanical design packages for vendors, including drawings with specifications, tolerances, and special process steps.
• Background in precision optical mounting techniques and their integration into opto-mechanical systems.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and clinical teams by incorporating their input into design decisions.
• Familiarity with scanner systems and heat transfer considerations in opto-mechanical designs.
• Experience working in or around medical device development environments.
• Ability to provide innovative solutions and technical guidance to help meet project milestones.

The engineer will work primarily in an optical test laboratory alongside other technicians and engineers. The environment involves hands-on interaction with optical and mechanical assemblies, including setting up and testing laser, imaging, illumination, and precision optical mounting systems. The role requires frequent use of CAD tools such as SolidWorks, optical design software such as Code V (Code 5) or Zemax, and analysis tools including FEA. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is a regular part of the workday, and activities are carried out within a highly regulated setting, typical of medical equipment development. The lab environment emphasizes precision, safety, and adherence to documented procedures.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Rochester, MN.

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $70.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Rochester,MN.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 20, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.