Senior Optical Engineer

As a member of the cloud storage development team, you’re stepping into a pivotal role that will shape the future of cloud computing. Engage in the design and development of groundbreaking products that will enable faster, greener, and more reliable datacenters worldwide. You will collaborate with world-class experts in optics, electronics, software, mechanics, and our key partners to create cutting-edge solutions that address the growing demand for cloud services. You will also have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources to test, validate, ang bring your designs from concept to reality.  

We are in search of a skilled optical engineer to drive innovation in our cloud storage systems. This role entails the design and development of advanced optical solutions, working in synergy with a diverse team of engineers and researchers. The successful candidate will play a key role in forging new storage technologies that bolster the performance, efficiency, and reliability of cloud computing. 

Required Qualifications 

• Masters’s degree in optical sciences, physics or in another related field. 

• Solid experience in optical component or system design, development, testing, and validation. 

• Hands-on experience in at least two of the following areas: ultrafast pulsed lasers, optical modulators, laser scanning, optical microscopy, non-linear optics, optical communications, interferometry. 

• Understanding of laser physics and physical optics. 

• Knowledge of optical design software, such as Zemax, CodeV, FRED. 

• Data analysis experience, Matlab, Python, JMP or equivalent. 

• Ability to understand, modify and run existing codes in e.g. Python, C/C++ or C#. 

Desired qualifications: 

• PhD in optical sciences, physics or in another related field. 

• Strong knowledge of laser physics, optical aberrations, and imaging systems. 

• Strong programming experience e.g. Python, C/C++, C#.  

• Knowledge in diffractive optics. 

• Experience in high-speed imaging systems. 

• Experience in lens design projects. 

• Experience in leading outsourced optical component development projects. 

• Experience in opto-mechanics, optical components, and optical systems manufacturing including tolerancing and reliability.    

• Experience in (optical) simulation methods such as, FDTD, FMM/RCWA, FEM (Lumerical, VirtualLab Fusion, Comsol). 

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.

As an optical engineer in our research and development team, you will: 

• Develop and design optics for a data storage system. 

• Work hands-on in building and testing prototype systems and components. 

• Create and test new innovative solutions for improving system performance.  

• Generate and evaluate different optical subsystem concepts and prototypes.  

• Design engineering verification tests for sub-system prototypes. 

• Partner with internal project stakeholders.  

• Partner and technically steer external stakeholders such as subcontractors and subsystem suppliers. 

• Oversee outsourced development projects, components, and sub-systems.