Field Application Engineer

Salary: $81,000 - $108,000 based upon education, work experience, and skill 

About Us 

Vescent Technologies is a recognized leader in quantum technologies.  This includes both: i) foundational technologies such as laser frequency control systems, optical frequency combs, electro-optical modules, and feedback control electronics, and ii) complete solutions such as next generation atomic clocks and time distribution, control systems for quantum computers, and deployed quantum sensors. The work environment is fun, fast-paced, challenging, and interdisciplinary. The Vescent team takes pride in its work, is energetic and agile, and enjoys celebrating team successes. 

Position Summary 

Vescent seeks a detail-oriented Field Application Engineer. The successful candidate will become fully knowledgeable and an expert user of the Vescent product line of precision lasers, frequency combs, and control electronics.  They will lead in quantifying the performance of these products in various use case scenarios.  This is a customer-facing advocate position in which the FAE will answer how-to and what-if questions regarding optical physics experiments using Vescent products from internal and external customers.  The FAE will also own product manual authorship & production.  The Field Application Engineer will assist the Production and R&D groups by applying their product knowledge and trouble-shooting skills in various situations, including product certification, RMAs and regression testing of products.  Successful candidate will stage, install & strike trade show exhibits. 

Responsibilities 

• Become product expert in all usage aspects of all Vescent products 

• Overall product functionality, purpose, & performance 

• Options, settings, & interactions with other Vescent and 3rd-party photonics tools 

• Set up use cases of products as requested by internal and external customers to  

• Determine efficacy and performance in given configuration and/or suggest alternative configurations 

• Write internal and customer-facing reports & application notes and produce short videos summarizing methods & results of above experiments 

• As appropriate, publish approved videos on Vescent YouTube channel 

• Assist in product certification in conjunction with the R&D and Engineering groups 

• Be the Customer’s voice 

• Advocate customer requests for use-case data and product modifications 

• Promote enhancements and fixes to products 

• Notify Manufacturing and Engineering teams of performance shortfalls and software bugs 

• Manage user manuals for all products 

• Learn proper usage from Development team 

• Author and maintain accurate, concise manuals 

• Trade Shows & Exhibitions 

• Design, assemble, & test exhibition demonstrations 

• Stage collateral to be shipped to display location 

• Set up & strike trade show exhibits on location 

• Be “customer zero” for new products being transferred from Engineering to Production 

• Test all aspects of product performance 

• Find & report product foibles, defects, and non-conforming behaviors 

• Conduct product software testing 

• Suggest product improvements 

• Assist Production with  

• Qualifying/testing Engineering change orders 

• Troubleshooting & repairing failed product units (RMAs) 

 Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Physics, Engineering Physics, Electrical Engineering, or Physical or Analytical Chemistry.  Advanced degree strongly preferred. 

• Emphasis in experimental optics/lasers/spectroscopy 

• >2 years of hands-on experience in optics/lasers/spectroscopy in commercial setting 

• Experience making measurements with electronics test equipment (e.g. oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analyzers, frequency counters, etc.) 

• Electronics background, including troubleshooting and board reworking 

• Self-starter, life-long learner 

• Able to work independently and as part of a team 

• Ability to design, build, and operate laser-based experiments  

• Experience with programming and testing software 

• Emphasis on Python  

• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills: Ability to collect, collate, analyze, and present data in concise written and oral formats.  Capable of user manual authorship 

• Travel requirements: 2-8 weeks/year 

Desirable Additional Skills 

• Experience in photonics relevant to atomic, molecular, & optical physics (AMOP), quantum sensing, and frequency combs 

• Further programming abilities 

• Web-based skills in HTML and/or Magento 

• Photography and/or videography skills including software editing 

Benefits 

• Flexible schedule options to support work-life balance 

• 4 Weeks of PTO annually 

• 7 Company paid holidays, 1 Floating Holiday 

• 401(K) Plan with employer contribution 

• Health & Dental Insurance with plan options including employer-paid premium coverage 

• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer matching available with eligible plans 

• Incentive Stock Option 

• Long-Term Disability Insurance 

How to Apply 

Please send your resume with a cover letter to hr@vescent.com. Your cover letter should express how your skills, qualifications, and interests address the job description, and why you want to work at Vescent. Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered. 

Compliance Notice 

This position is subject to a background check in accordance with applicable laws, and employment is contingent upon the successful completion of that process as well as the ability to meet eligibility criteria for access to secured or regulated work environments. Vescent Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. 

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available at this time. Employment with Vescent Technologies is at-will and may be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by applicable law.  

If you require an accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact hr@vescent.com 

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply in accordance with applicable job posting policies.