Principal Fiber Laser Engineer
Company websitemks.com (MKS, opens in new tab)
Base salary $139K to $231K
Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Milpitas, CA
You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.
- LocationMilpitas, CA
- WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
- Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
- Last checked (1 h ago) · observed since
About this job
A Day in Your Life at MKS:
Spectra-Physics is the Lasers Business Unit of MKS Inc. We have an excellent opportunity for someone like you to join our innovative product development engineering team as a Principal Fiber Laser Engineer. In this position, you will contribute to the optical design of fiber-based laser systems. You will work interactively within a project team and use your excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with cross-functional team members. We push the boundaries of technology to develop a wide range of continuous wave, nanosecond and picosecond lasers that address the needs of Industrial, Scientific, and Life and Health markets. If you have a passion for working with cutting-edge laser systems, this is the role for you.
You Will Make an Impact By:
- Serve as a technical expert for the optical design of fiber-based lasers. Execute experiments to test conceptual designs and to document optical system performance. Use software computational tools to aid in the design and analysis of optical system performance.
- Define test strategies, build, test and document system prototypes: measure optical and opto-electronic parameters and evaluate results, create test reports and generate design documentation including optical diagrams, drawings, and optical components specifications
- Work with optical component vendors for component procurement, and to complete performance and reliability evaluation
- Work in a multi-disciplinary team and interact with Electrical, Mechanical, Software and Manufacturing Engineers on new product development and design transfer to production.
- Lead structured root-cause investigations for product, manufacturing, and field failures, diagnose complex technical issues and analyze reliability, yield, and performance data to identify trends and implement corrective actions.
Skills You Bring:
- BS degree in Engineering, Physics or a related field and 8+ years of industry experience or MS degree and 5+ years of experience.
- Hands-on experience with passive and active fibers and fiber-optics components, including fiber preparation and splicing and components characterization.
- In-depth knowledge of various fiber types, their advantages and disadvantages, and typical use. Experience in making proper fiber and fiber component selection for different applications.
- Proven ability to independently define opto-electronic measurement procedures, set up and perform the measurements, evaluate the results and clearly communicate the conclusions to peer engineers and management.
- Proven experience with optical measurement instruments, such as beam parameters analyzers, power meters, auto-correlators, fast opto-electronics, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers and spectrometers.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in troubleshooting and failure analysis of optical modules and systems
- Experience with high power pulsed fiber laser design and testing.
- Experience with Gaussian beam propagation software tools
- Experience with harmonic generation and nonlinear crystals (SHG, THG, SFG)
- Ability to model laser light generation and amplification using commercially available or self-developed software tools
- Experience with automated measurement and control methods (Python)
We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.
Compensation and Benefits:
Salary Pay Range: $139,000 to $231,000 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.
Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].
Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.].
MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details.
MKS will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers.
#LI-EK
Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. persons.” “U.S. persons” are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: [email protected] .
If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role
Source: MKS on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)
This listingPrincipal Fiber Laser Engineer$139K to $231K
Principal Systems Engineer$138,825 to $231,375
Principal DevOps Architect$140K to $185K
Senior Manager, Product Line Marketing, OpticsFrom $140K
Senior Manager, Global Leadership Development$135K to $225K
Senior Quality Engineering Manager$135K to $225K
Product Marketing ManagerFrom $130K
Chart as a table
| Role | Published base |
|---|---|
| Principal Fiber Laser Engineer (this listing) | $139K - $231K |
| Principal Systems Engineer | $138,825 - $231,375 |
| Principal DevOps Architect | $140K - $185K |
| Senior Manager, Product Line Marketing, Optics | From $140K |
| Senior Manager, Global Leadership Development | $135K - $225K |
| Senior Quality Engineering Manager | $135K - $225K |
| Product Marketing Manager | From $130K |
Observed changes
- Began meeting the published-salary criteria
- First observed on the employer's board
- fields changed
- Observed since
- Employer-stated posting date
- 2026-11-05
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: Milpitas, CA
Salary Pay Range: $139,000 to $231,000 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expect
- Method
- Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
- Checked
- Rule set
- us-base-v2
The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.
What we verified
- The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
- The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
- The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.
We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.
