Manager, Optical Manufacturing Development Engineering

The posting, as Divergent wrote it

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built.

Purpose

Lead the optical systems function within Divergent's Manufacturing Development Engineering (MDE) team, owning the integration, commissioning, and long-term calibration stability of optical subsystems (beam delivery, scanners/galvos, F-theta lenses, high-speed imaging) across the LPBF machine fleet. This is a player-coach role: you'll lead a small team of optics engineers while staying hands-on with builds, troubleshooting, and calibration verification — ensuring machines hold optical performance and repeatability from commissioning through full-rate production.

The Role

• Own optical subsystem integration and stabilization across LPBF machine builds, from initial bring-up through commissioning and steady-state production
• Lead development of calibration procedures and, critically, verification methods that confirm calibration integrity is maintained over time — through drift, wear, and environmental variation
• Build and lead a small team of optics engineers, working alongside them on builds, calibration, troubleshooting, and RCCA
• Partner with hardware design, controls/software, process engineering, and operations to resolve optical performance issues affecting build quality, uptime, and throughput
• Own documentation for optical subsystems: work instructions, calibration and verification procedures, acceptance criteria, and test plans
• Lead RCCA on optical-related failures and escapes; own corrective and preventive actions to reduce recurrence
• Establish metrics for optical system health (calibration hold time, drift rate, verification pass rate, MTBF) and drive continuous improvement
• Train technicians and engineers on calibration, alignment, and laser safety practices
• Support scale-up and replication of optical systems and processes across additional machines and factories
• Leadership & Management
• Lead and develop a small team with clear expectations, real-time feedback, and accountability, while remaining personally hands-on in the lab and on the floor
• Model Divergent's core values of Respect, Clarity, Winning Spirit, Commitment, and Interdependence through disciplined execution and cross-functional collaboration

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls
• Bachelor's degree in Optics/Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related

[…]
thin a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
EEO Poster

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected.

E-Verify: Right to Work
Our company participates in E-Verify . E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.
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Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)
Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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