About Luna Innovations & The Optics/Polarization Product Line
At Luna Innovations, we measure and manage light in optical fiber. Our Optics/Polarization product line, based out of Chino, CA, specializes in industry-leading components, modules, and test equipment for the characterization and control of optical polarization. Our instruments—ranging from dynamic optical delay/phase management, high-speed polarization state management, full function polarization light analyzer—are critical for optical communications, silicon photonics testing, and fiber optic sensing.
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled Hardware Engineer with 5+ years of experience to join the electrical and hardware design team for our photonics instrumentation. In this role, you will be responsible for designing the complex analog and digital circuitry that drives precision optical components and processes high-speed analog/digital signals.
You will work at the critical intersection of electronics and optics, designing the boards that power piezo/magneto/motors for precision devices, amplify pA level current signals from fast photodetectors, and design high precision/speed ADC/DAC/DSP/FPGA digital process system.
Key Responsibilities
Mixed-Signal Circuit Design: Architect, simulate, and design both analog and digital circuits, including low-noise Transimpedance Amplifiers (TIAs) for optical receivers, high-voltage/high-current drivers for piezoelectric actuators, and high-speed ADCs/DACs.PCB Layout & Prototyping: Work on schematic design and PCB layout tool, focusing on signal integrity, noise reduction, and thermal management in tightly packed instrument chassis.Optoelectronic Integration: Work closely with optical engineers to interface electronics with optical components such as laser diodes, optical modulators, photo detectors, and polarization controllers.Component Selection & Evaluation: Identify and source microcontrollers, FPGAs, power supplies, and precision analog components that meet strict performance, cost, and supply chain requirements.Prototyping & Validation: Bring up new boards in the lab. Perform rigorous testing for signal integrity, timing margins, and EMC/EMI compliance to ensure robust performance in industrial and laboratory environments.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Software/Firmware team to define hardware-software interfaces, ensuring seamless control and data acquisition logic.Required Skills & Experience
Designing hardware for optical polarization instruments requires a meticulous approach to minimizing noise while maximizing speed. To excel in this role, you will need:
Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in electrical/hardware engineering, specifically with mixed-signal board-level design for scientific instruments, test equipment, or optoelectronics.Analog Design Mastery: Deep understanding of low-level analog design. You must know how to design a ultra-low noise TIA, , low-noise high speed front end for high speed ADC, high-voltage drive circuits design for physical actuators.Digital & Microcontroller Systems: Experience integrating MCU/ARM/DSP, FPGAs, and high-speed memory interfaces.Communication Interfacing: Deep understanding of communication protocols and hardware interfaces (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART, TCP/IP, USB, GPIB).EDA Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout software (Altium Designer preferred), with a strong grasp of layout best practices for mixed-signal multi-layer boards.Hands-on Lab Skills: Exceptional debugging skills using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, and function generators. You should be as comfortable with a soldering iron as you are with a simulation tool.Preferred Qualifications
Background in optics, photonics, or silicon photonics, with an understanding of how electrical noise impacts optical measurements Experience with up-to-date hybrid FPGA system (PS/PL) firmware development (Whole Tool Chain) for high-speed real-time data processing.Experience with Linux driver for hardwareFamiliarity with designing for manufacturability (DFM) and designing for test (DFT) to smoothly transition prototypes into volume manufacturing.Salary & Level
Salary will be commensurate with experience, and the level of the role may vary. We are ideally looking for a Senior Hardware Engineer.Luna is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer – Luna provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, or service in the military or any other characteristic. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. Luna expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment or discrimination based on any of the characteristics mentioned above.
Read LessABOUT LUNA
At Luna Innovations Incorporated (Luna), we measure and manage light. Our Optics & Polarization product line, based out of Chino, CA, specializes in industry-leading components, modules, and test equipment for the characterization and control of optical polarization. Our instruments—ranging from dynamic optical delay/phase management, high-speed polarization state management, full function polarization light analyzer—are critical for optical communications, fiber optic sensing, silicon photonics testing and new generation photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and ASIC hybrid/co-packaging (CPO).
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
Precision optical instruments don’t just need great optics—they need mechanical designs that protect and position those optics, manage heat in increasingly compact enclosures, and hold tight tolerances across optical, electrical, and mechanical interfaces. As Luna’s product line expands and our systems become denser and more capable, the mechanical engineer on the team is the person who makes sure everything fits, functions, and lasts.
This is a hands-on, design-driven role with real ownership. You’ll work across the full product development lifecycle—from early concept and SolidWorks modeling through prototyping, test fixture design, and release to production—alongside optical scientists, electrical engineers, and manufacturing teams who care deeply about getting it right.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Mechanical Design & System Integration
Design instrument enclosures for electro-optical systems across form factors—desktop, rackmount, and hand-heldDrive system-level integration across optical, electrical, and mechanical domains—working closely with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure components and subsystems are physically compatible, properly aligned, and optimized for manufacturability and performanceDevelop mechanical packaging solutions that accommodate precision optical assemblies, PCBs, connectors, and cabling within constrained form factors while maintaining optical path integrity and serviceabilityDefine and manage mechanical interfaces and tolerance stack-ups to ensure reliable alignment and repeatable assembly across optical and electromechanical subassembliesApply thermal modeling to design high-performance compact products—as our systems become increasingly dense, airflow cooling and thermal management are critical to product reliability and performanceTest, Fixtures & Manufacturing
Design fixtures and processes for testing optical test and measurement assembliesCreate procedures for the construction and assembly of measurement instrumentCollaborate with manufacturing and operations teams to support productionREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related fieldMechanical engineering experience preferred; role level commensurate with experienceProficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar) for product and system designExcellent communication, technical writing, analytical, and interpersonal skillsAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, cross-functional environmentDESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience with laboratory test equipment (gauges, thermocouples, etc.)Experience with photonic packaging Experience with optics prisms, cubes, fiber optic componentry and cablingExperience with standardized testing protocols (IP rating, MIL-STD-810G, etc.)Experience with NPI processes in a low-to-medium volume, high-mix manufacturing environmentExperience with Ansys Fluent (or similar) software for thermal modelingWHY LUNA
Here’s what you can expect:
Competitive compensation & benefits: comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus a company-sponsored 401(k) with employer matchInvest in your growth: tuition assistance, professional development funding, and support for industry training and certificationsWork that matters: the designs you create will directly determine the performance and reliability of instruments used in aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and cutting-edge researchInnovation-driven culture: join a team where engineering rigor is valued, cross-functional collaboration is the norm, and you’ll see your work go from concept to productionChino, California location: Experience the best of Southern California — just 35 miles from Los Angeles, with year-round sunshine, easy access to mountain and beach destinations, and a welcoming, family-friendly community in the heart of the Inland Empire, without the coastal price tag.Luna Innovations is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Luna provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, or veteran status. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. Luna expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment or discrimination.
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