Optical Scientist

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Location:

Shoreview, MN, US, 55126

Are you someone that likes new challenges? Do you want to explore new technologies and help solve some of the world’s most difficult problems, like air quality and safety solutions? At TSI, these opportunities are real. Our engineers work with industry-leading experts both internally and externally. We encourage and enable our engineers to get into the field with customers to better understand their issues and solve their problems.

At TSI, you make a difference – every day.

The primary role of the Staff Optical Scientist will be to lead the modeling, design, and development of laser and optical assemblies for use in various measurement technologies. This role will serve as a subject matter expert in optics throughout the organization and will create test plans, author test reports, work with technicians to perform tests, and document the test results.

This role will have contact with systems engineers, technicians, design engineers, project management, metrology, quality, marketing, sales, customers, and tech support.

The Staff Optical Scientist will require a strong working knowledge of mathematical modeling tools, electronics, electro-optics, laser physics, light scattering theory, sensor technology, and metrology. Among other tasks, the Optical Scientist will work with multi‑disciplinary design teams to define technical requirements, determine feasibility, and lay out and maintain a technology roadmap for future products. The optical solutions will have applications in aerosol physics, particle counting, gas concentration measurement and speciation, agriculture, ventilation/humidity/air flow/velocity, and outdoor air quality.

In order to grow and build a successful career with TSI, you will:

• Support existing methods and contribute ideas to improve the company’s core competency in the areas such as lasers, spectroscopy, instrumentation design, particle counting and sizing
• Design and prototyping of optical systems to include lenses, coatings, mirrors, fibers, and wave guides
• Evaluate existing methods and develop improved methods for measurements and instrumentation
• As needed, write, comment, and de‑bug software/modeling code for optics and other models accurately and efficiently, while following TSI coding standards
• Publish papers and generate patent applications relating to the company’s measurement needs
• Participate on project teams and attend technical reviews offering insights on detection possibilities
• Keep active in the fields of interest by reviewing literature, interacting with existing and potential collaborators, and networking with industrial and academic colleagues
• Work with leaders in the field to develop and implement advanced optical measurement techniques; this can include working from published literature or directly with developers of licensed technologies
• Participate in technical feasibility projects
• Provide consulting across the organization to address problems and recommend solutions
• Develop and execute research, feasibility, verification, and validation subsystem and system level test plans
• Lead technicians in the testing effort
• Mentor technicians on performing tests, documenting test results, and providing a physics‑based explanation of what is being tested
• Respond to advanced technical questions from the field
• Participate in technical reviews offering insights on design, especially from a customer’s perspective
• Participate in design reviews; give critical and constructive feedback to improve the reviewed designs
• Work cooperatively with other departments to develop best practices
• Complete other assignments and special projects, as requested

Required

• MS or PhD (PhD preferred) in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering, optical engineering, mechanical engineering, or similar field from an established research institution
• 8+ years experience in a product development environment as a scientist or test engineer
• Electro‑optics and laser physics as applied to instrumentation
• Thorough understanding of laser…