Optical Engineer/Scientist (Ph.D.)
EXPONENT INC · San Francisco Bay Area
📍 Menlo Park, CAvia icimsPosted 2026-07-15
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About Exponent
Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve our clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges.
Our vision is to engage multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we've connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.
Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive experience spanning a variety of industries. At Exponent, you’ll contribute to the diverse pool of ideas, talents, backgrounds, and experiences that drives our collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights. Plus, we help you grow your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning. Thanks for your interest in joining our team!
Key statistics:
950+ Consultants
640+ Ph.D.s
90+ Disciplines
30+ Offices globally
Our Opportunity
We are currently seeking an Optical Engineer/Scientist for our Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Practice in Menlo Park, CA. In this role, you will work as part of a team to help our clients solve challenging technical problems which are often urgent, high profile, and multi-disciplinary. You will be involved in a variety of projects with applications such as laser hazard analysis and electrical failure analysis. You will have the opportunity to define and shape your individual consulting practice based on your skills and interests.
You will be responsible for
Performing electrical engineering analyses and optical and electronics testing related to ongoing Exponent work
Interacting with clients to relay technical results as well as business development
Preparing technical proposals, pursuing business developments, and supervising and managing laboratory testing
Critically assessing test results, methods of analysis and testing protocols
Generating new testing protocols based on new product designs
Maintaining a systematic approach to data collection and storage, and report writing
Promoting your skill set both internally and externally to engage in a wide array of technical projects
Researching and developing novel methodologies to answer cutting-edge scientific- and engineering-based problems
You will have the following skills and qualifications
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optics, Applied Physics, or a related field
Technical background in the following disciplines (Experience in optics AND electronics strongly desired):
Optics, lasers, or LEDs
Electronics, controls or circuit design
Experience building bench-top or product-level optical systems
Excellent written and verbal communications skills, and ability to work independently or in multidisciplinary teams
Ability to gather information and convey technical conclusions to individuals in engineering, business, and related industry
Ability to support multiple group projects and market the Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Practice and its consulting services
Strong desire to helping clients with their technical needs
The desire to engage in professional development opportunities such as becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer (if applicable), obtaining relevant certifications, contributing to conferences or publications, etc.
Applicants are encouraged to submit a CV (Curriculum Vitae) with publications (feel free to include publications that are in review or pending) [not restricted to 1 page].
Life @ Exponent
To learn more about life at Exponent and our impact, please visit the following links:https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent https://www.exponent.com/company/our-impact
Attracting, inspiring, developing, and rewarding exceptional people with diverse backgrounds and expertise are central to our corporate culture. Our diverse team allows us to provide better value to our clients and enjoy an enriched work environment.
Our firm is committed to offering a variety of programs and resources to support health and well-being. We believe that providing competitive benefits as well as compensation and recognition programs empowers our staff to do work that makes a difference.
Work Environment
At Exponent, we have found that in-person interactions deepen employee engagement and are crucial for development, for realizing the full potential of our talented and diverse teams, and for building a more inclusive workplace where all have a sense of belonging. In our offices, you can expect a supportive culture and a collaborative, dynamic, multi-disciplinary work environment. Our consultants engage in-person in the office unless they are traveling for client work or other business activities.
We value the rich lives our colleagues enjoy outside of work and understand that work/life balance is critical to our employees and their well-being. Consultants have the autonomy to balance their work and personal schedules so you can meet with clients, visit inspection sites, attend conferences, and make time for priorities outside of work, too. It is this flexible, agile work style and working hours that allow our teams to drive innovation and results in their own ways, while meeting the needs of clients. #LI-Onsite
Compensation
Our consultants are rewarded for their technical and business contributions and have an opportunity to plan for future success and career growth. Exponent's total compensation plan is consistent with its expectations of the quality and quantity of work performed and with the professional standards set by Exponent. At the Associate and Senior Associate level, total compensation includes base salary, bi-weekly bonus
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