Optomechanical engineering technicians collaborate with engineers in the development of optomechanical devices, such as optical tables, deformable mirrors, and optical mounts. Optomechanical engineering technicians build, install, test, and maintain optomechanical equipment prototypes. They determine materials and assembly requirements.
Excludes people performing engineering activites related to optoelectronics.
The following job titles also refer to optomechanical engineering technician:
technologist in optical systems technician in optomechanical systems technologist in optomechanical systems optomechanical technologist assistant in optomechanical engineering optomechanical technician optomechanical engineering assistant
An associate’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field is generally the minimum required to work as an optomechanical engineering technician.
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Optomechanical engineering technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of optomechanical engineering technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of optomechanical engineering technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of optomechanical engineering technician.
Optical equipment standards: The national and international quality and safety standards and regulations with regards to the use and manufacture of optical equipment, including optical materials, optical components, optical systems, ophthalmic equipment, optomechanical equipment, optical measuring equipment, photographic equipment, and optoelectronic equipment.
Optical glass characteristics: The characteristics of optical glass such as refractive index, dispersion, and chemical properties.
Optomechanical devices: Devices which combine mechanical and optical properties, such as precision mirror mounts used in the construction of lasers, optical mounts used in the manufacture of cameras, and optical tables used for optics experiments and engineering.
Optics: The science that studies the elements and reaction of light.
Optomechanical components: Components that possess mechanical and optical features, such as optical mirrors, optical mounts, and optical fibre.
Types of optical instruments: Possess information on the types of optical instruments and lenses, such as microscopes and telescopes, as well as on their mechanics, components, and characteristics.
Design drawings: Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
Refractive power: Refractive power or optical power is the degree to which an optical system, such as a lens, converges or diverges light. Diverging lenses possess negative refractive power, while converging lenses possess positive refractive power.
Optomechanical engineering: Subset of mechanical engineering specialised in optical systems and products, such as binoculars, microscopes, telescopes, and spectrometers, as well as optomechanical components, such as optical mounts and optical mirrors.
Mechanical engineering: Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.
Optical engineering: Subdiscipline of engineering that deals with the development of optical instruments and applications, such as telescopes, microscopes, lenses, lasers, fibre optic communication, and imaging systems.
Optical components: The components and materials necessary for building optical instruments, such as lenses and frames.
Optical manufacturing process: The process and different stages of manufacturing an optical product, from design and prototyping to the preparation of optical components and lenses, the assembly of optical equipment, and the intermediate and final testing of the optical products and its components.
These skills are necessary for the role of optomechanical engineering technician.
Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
Assemble optomechanical equipment: Prepare and assemble optomechanical components and systems, such as optical mounts and optical tables, using hand tools, precision measuring equipment, soldering and polishing techniques.
Test optical components: Test optical systems, products, and components with appropriate optical testing methods, such as axial ray testing and oblique ray testing.
Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
Align components: Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
Apply optical coating: Apply coating to optical lenses, such as reflective coating to mirrors, anti-reflective coatings to camera lenses, or tinted coatings to sunglasses.
Read engineering drawings: Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
Clean optical components: Clean optical components after every cycle in the manufacturing process.
Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
Fasten components: Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
Operate scientific measuring equipment: Operate devices, machinery, and equipment designed for scientific measurement. Scientific equipment consists of specialised measuring instruments refined to facilitate the acquisition of data.
Assist scientific research: Assist engineers or scientists with conducting experiments, performing analysis, developing new products or processes, constructing theory, and quality control.
Prepare production prototypes: Prepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of optomechanical engineering technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Cavity optomechanics: Subset of physics that focuses on the interaction between mechanical objects and light. The focus predominantly lies in ameliorating radiation pressure interaction between matter from the optical resonators or cavities and the light or photons.
CAE software: The software to perform computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis tasks such as Finite Element Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics.
CAD software: The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
Microoptics: Optical devices with a size of 1 millimeter or smaller, such as microlenses and micromirrors.
Electromagnetic spectrum: The different electromagnetic wavelenghts or frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum. Wavelenghts are divided in several categories according to their wavelength and energy level, starting from radio wavelenghts with a long wavelength and a low energy level, to microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and finally, Gamma-rays with a short wavelength and a high energy level.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of optomechanical engineering technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Monitor machine operations: Observe machine operations and evaluate product quality thereby ensuring conformity to standards.
Resolve equipment malfunctions: Identify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions; communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.
Calibrate optical instruments: Correct and adjust the reliability of optical instruments, such as photometers, polarimeters, and spectrometers, by measuring output and comparing results with the data of a reference device or a set of standardised results. This is done in regular intervals which the manufacturer sets.
Maintain optical equipment: Diagnose and detect malfunctions in optical systems, such as lasers, microscopes, and oscilloscopes. Remove, replace, or repair these systems or system components when necessary. Execute preventative equipment maintenance tasks, such as storing the equipment in clean, dust-free, and non-humid spaces.
Use CAM software: Use computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.
Operate industrial equipment: Operate devices, machinery, and equipment used in industrial production. Industrial equipment usually includes mounting, adjusting, clamping, rotating, and indexing elements, as well as mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical drives that actuate these elements.
Integrate new products in manufacturing: Assist with the integration of new systems, products, methods, and components in the production line. Ensure that production workers are properly trained and follow the new requirements.
Write technical reports: Compose technical customer reports understandable for people without technical background.
Inspect optical supplies: Check optical materials for damage, such as scratches, before using the material.
Use precision tools: Use electronic, mechanical, electric, or optical precision tools for precision work.
Apply technical communication skills: Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.
Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Repair optical equipment: Identify the problem of the optical instrument, check for deterioration, and replace deficient components.
Operate precision machinery: Operate machinery used for the making of small systems or components with a high level of precision.
Operate optical assembly equipment: Set up and operate optical processing or assembly equipment, such as optical spectrum analysers, power saws, lasers, die bonders, soldering irons, and wire bonders.
