Electrical Engineer II

Location: Lafayette, Colorado, United States

Department: US - CCI - Colorado Center for Innovation

Workplace: on_site

Employment Type: full

Description

At Thorlabs, we design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabs contributes to cutting-edge research and real-world innovation.

Whether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. We know every employee brings unique talents and perspectives that fuel our success, and we seek driven individuals who are excited to make an impact in a fun, fast-moving culture.

Electrical Engineer II will serve as a technical lead within the CCI, driving the architecture and development of next-generation laboratory electronic products. You will take ownership of the full product lifecycle—from initial concept and complex circuit design to final compliance and manufacturing release. This role requires a seasoned engineer capable of solving sophisticated hardware challenges in low-noise instrumentation and quantum photonics, while providing technical oversight to junior staff.

• Lead the design and schematic capture of high-precision analog and digital systems, ensuring optimal signal integrity for low-noise applications.

• Independently manage PCB layout strategies for complex, multi-layer boards involving high-speed signals, sensitive photonics interfaces, and varied power systems.

• Lead root-cause analysis for complex system failures and implement long-term design fixes.

• Coordinate with mechanical, software, and photonics engineers to define system requirements and ensure seamless cross-disciplinary integration.

• Oversee and guarantee that all products meet rigorous international standards (EMC/EMI, UL, CE) through comprehensive validation planning.

• Act as a technical resource and provide oversight for early-career engineers, conducting design reviews and promoting engineering best practices. In addition to the essential functions and duties listed above, all positions are also responsible for:

• Meeting company standards pertaining to quantity and quality of work performed on an ongoing basis, performing all work-related tasks in a manner in compliance with all Company policies and procedures.

• Adhering to Company policies, procedures, and directives regarding standards of workplace behavior in completing job duties and assignments.

The Company retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Requirements

Experience:

5–10 years of professional experience specifically in precision analog design or high-performance instrumentation.
Education:

• BSEE or MSEE or similar from an ABET accredited institution

• Demonstrated equivalent knowledge and experience

Specialized Knowledge and Interests:
• Proficiency in EDA tools (including multi-layer stack-up and high-speed routing) and advanced SPICE/LTspice modeling for noise floor estimation, thermal behavior, and part tolerancing. Altium Designer is preferred.

• Hands-on experience performing advanced measurements of electronics (e.g., 1GHz+ oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers) and characterizing low-level signals.

• Deep understanding of the design considerations for precision analog design (pico-ampere sensing, low-drift op-amps), high-efficiency power conversion, and high-speed digital integration.

• Familiarity with embedded digital electronics including: microprocessors, microcontrollers, programmable logic devices, volatile and non-volatile memories, Ethernet, I2C, SPI, UART and USB.

• Proven ability to author comprehensive Design Specifications, Test Plans, and Manufacturing Instructions; experienced in Design for Excellence (DFX)—specifically for manufacturability and test (DFM/DFT).

• Demonstrated success in contributing to cross-functional teams moving products from initial concept through New Product Introduction (NPI) and into low-volume/high-complexity production environments.

• Proficiency in advanced electronics rework, including fine-pitch SMT soldering and BGA troubleshooting, to facilitate rapid internal prototyping and failure analysis.

• Experience managing Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity (PI) in sensitive analog-digital hybrid systems to minimize cross-talk and EMI.

• Architecting automated test environments using Python, LabVIEW, or C/C++ to streamline device characterization and production validation.

• A proven track record in photonics, laser control electronics, or precision measurement instrumentation, with a deep understanding of the unique noise and stability requirements of these fields.

• Experience designing systems incorporating FPGAs for signal processing and HDLs (e.g. VHDL or Verilog).

The estimated pay range for this role is $100,000 - $ 120,000 annually

Thorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identify or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.

Benefits

Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.