Production Technician, Precision Mechanical and Metrology

DescriptionProduction Technicians in Precision Mechanical and Metrology at Photonic ensure that every mechanical part influencing the relative position between a fiber array and a photonic chip is within specification. This role is part of the Operations Team and supports the deployment of Photonic chips and chip assemblies into our measurement and computer systems.
You will qualify low-temperature translation stages, chip mounts, and other precision parts, assemble and align cryogenic sample assemblies, and design the jigs, fixtures, and alignment sequences that make this work fast and repeatable. You will work closely with the Optical Integration and Test Technician, TPI technicians, our machine shop, cryogenic technicians, and engineering teams.
This is a permanent, full-time position, on-site at Photonic's Coquitlam, BC facilities.
Please include a cover letter with your resume (in one file) describing how you would be a great fit at Photonic and what attributes you could bring to our growing team.
WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DOQualify Low-Temperature Translation Stages

• Inspect incoming stages for parallelism of movement, travel range, and conformance to specification
• Execute routine testing of attocube stages, including travel extents, encoder performance, and load ratings
• Perform bake-out procedures for attocube stages (vacuum and heat)
• Align X and Y translation stages for orthogonality
• Maintain an inventory of pre-qualified and pre-assembled stages ready for deployment

Qualify Chip Mounts and Precision Parts

• Perform flatness and dimensional measurements on chip mounts and other mechanical parts
• Perform surface plate, dial test indicator, and CMM-style inspection
• Apply serialization and part identification markings
• Gold plate chip mounts and parts in-house, and coordinate with vendors when plating is outsourced
• Clean and pack parts for cleanroom use
• Maintain an inventory of pre-qualified and pre-assembled chip mounts

Cryogenic Sample Assemblies

• Assemble and align cryogenic sample assemblies
• Perform sample space alignment without a sample installed, so assemblies are ready for chip installation
• Verify that the tolerance stack-up between stages, mounts, and sample space is within specification before hand-off

Fabrication, Jigs, and Fixtures

• Design jigs and fixtures in CAD to improve productivity, repeatability, and quality
• Fabricate parts and fixtures using CNC and manual milling, drill press, 3D printing, and handwork
• Perform surface grinding, polishing, and deburring as required
• Work with our machine shop on parts that require additional capacity or capability

Documentation and Process

• Write and maintain alignment sequences, inspection procedures, and qualification records
• Improve procedures based on hands-on experience and recurring issues
• Track qualification status and inventory so qualified hardware is ready when systems need it

WHAT YOU BRING TO OUR TEAM

• Three or more years of hands-on experience in precision mechanical assembly, machining, toolmaking, or metrology
• Diploma in mechanical engineering technology, a machinist or toolmaker certification, or equivalent experience
• Experience with machine shop tools and common practices, including milling machines, drill presses, and handwork
• Experience with CAD (SolidWorks or Fusion 360) and CAM for CNC milling
• Experience aligning vises and 4-jaw independent lathe chucks
• Proficiency with surface plates, dial test indicators, height gauges, and other precision measurement tools
• Experience with surface grinding, polishing, deburring, and general fabrication
• Experience using 3D printing to design solutions to practical problems
• Strong attention to detail and comfort working to tight tolerances

An exceptional candidate will bring:

• CMM programming or operation
• Experience with precision positioners, piezo stages, or motion control (e.g. attocube, PI, Newport)
• Exposure to vacuum or cryogenic systems, including bake-out procedures
• Experience with gold or other electroplating processes
• Understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis
• Experience working in a cleanroom or under contamination controls
• Familiarity with optomechanics or photonics hardware
• Familiarity with PLM and ERP systems (e.g. Arena and Oracle NetSuite)

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH US

• Work closely with some of the brightest innovators in quantum technologies to drive breakthroughs that redefine computing
• Apply precision machining and metrology skills to first-of-their-kind quantum hardware
• Design the fixtures and processes that make our alignment work faster and more repeatable
• Work directly with engineers and scientists in an inclusive, collaborative environment where your input influences how systems are designed, built, and deployed

The description above is what we think an ideal candidate would look like for this role. At Photonic, we understand that everyone has a different work and life journey. If you feel your experience is close to what we've described, but you might not meet all the requirements, please still apply! All roles listed are for current vacancies. While artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in reviewing applicant profiles, they do not determine candidate outcomes. Our hiring decisions are made by people, not algorithms. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees' differences, knowing that these very differences inspire innovation and build better teams. If there are any accommodations our team can make throughout our hiring process, please let us know.