Conventional & CNC Polishing | Sarasota, Florida | Full-Time, On-Site About American Photonics American Photonics is a U.S.-based precision optics manufacturer serving defense, aerospace, industrial, medical, scientific, and other demanding applications. We manufacture tight-tolerance optical components where surface quality, repeatability, and process control matter. Our operation works within an

ISO 9001

2015 quality environment, and we are continuing to invest in our people, equipment, and polishing capabilities. We are looking for an experienced optical polisher who knows the craft, takes pride in producing good optics, and wants to be part of a shop that is building stronger, more repeatable manufacturing processes. Job Summary We are looking for someone who can independently set up and run conventional optical grinding and polishing processes and consistently produce components to required optical specifications. You should be comfortable looking at a part, the drawing, the material, the tooling, and the inspection results and understanding what needs to change in the process. This is a hands-on production position. You will make optics, inspect your work, troubleshoot process issues, document successful methods, and share your knowledge with other technicians. For the right person, this is an opportunity to have a meaningful role in strengthening and expanding American Photonics' polishing operation. Duties Set up and operate conventional grinding and polishing equipment for precision optical components. Run assigned jobs independently from setup through in-process inspection and completion. Perform conventional and CNC-assisted polishing to achieve required surface figure and finish. Produce optics to specifications including power, irregularity, scratch/dig, wedge, and surface quality. Select and adjust tooling, speed, pressure, abrasives, polishing compounds, and process parameters based on material behavior and inspection results. Recognize when a polishing process is moving in the wrong direction and make corrections before additional time or material is lost. Use optical metrology equipment, including interferometers, autocollimators, and related inspection tools, to verify work during production. Read and interpret optical drawings, mechanical drawings, tolerances, and work instructions. Identify drawing or specification concerns before beginning a job and work with Production or Quality to resolve them. Perform and document in-process and final inspections. Record setup information, process parameters, tooling selections, polishing methods, and successful recipes so processes can be repeated by others. Help less-experienced technicians improve their polishing skills through practical, hands-on guidance. Work with Production and Quality to improve yield, reduce scrap, and solve recurring process problems. Support the introduction of new polishing equipment and processes as American Photonics expands its manufacturing capabilities. Handle high-value optical materials carefully and maintain a clean, organized work area. Requirements 5+ years of hands-on precision optical grinding and polishing experience producing optical components for industrial, defense, aerospace, scientific, medical, semiconductor, laser, or similar applications. Strong experience with conventional pitch, lap, or comparable optical polishing methods. The ability to independently set up and run polishing jobs without requiring constant supervision. Demonstrated ability to achieve and evaluate optical specifications such as surface figure, power, irregularity, scratch/dig, wedge, and surface finish. Experience using an interferometer or equivalent optical metrology equipment. Ability to read and understand optical drawings and specifications. Good judgment when troubleshooting polishing problems and determining process adjustments. Experience working carefully with precision components where scrap, breakage, and rework carry significant cost. A willingness to document successful methods rather than relying solely on tribal knowledge. The ability to work independently while communicating clearly with Production, Quality, and other technicians. Compensation & Benefits Competitive hourly compensation based on optical polishing experience.

American Photonics offers:

Medical insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Paid Time Off Paid holidays Full-time, stable employment Opportunities to expand your technical knowledge as our manufacturing capabilities grow

For Indeed:

We strongly encourage including the actual hourly pay range in this posting. Work Location Sarasota, Florida This is a full-time, hands-on manufacturing position and must be performed on-site. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to Sarasota or relocate to the area. U.S.

Citizenship Requirement:

This position supports programs subject to U.S. government regulations and customer contractual obligations. Therefore, candidates must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) .

Pay:

From $1.00 per hour Application Question(s): How many years of hands-on precision optical grinding and polishing experience do you have? Have you independently set up and operated conventional pitch, lap, or similar optical polishing equipment? What optical materials have you personally polished?

Examples:

optical glass, fused silica, germanium, ZnSe, silicon, or other IR materials. Have you personally used an interferometer to evaluate optical surface figure? If yes, what equipment have you used? Have you worked to optical specifications involving power, irregularity, scratch/dig, wedge, or surface figure? What are your salary expectations for this role? What is your earliest available start date?

Work Location:

In person