Optical Assembly Technician
Coherent · Santa Clara, CA
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 8 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level manufacturing role at Coherent (industrial) in Santa Clara, CA. A ccountability – Own the Process and the Outcome.
- They ask for
- 3+ years
- Tools it names
- Tooling, EHS / safety
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Technician roles in California: typical posted base $59k–$78k.
Median of the low and high ends of 9 live postings that list pay, out of 142 manufacturing technician openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 105 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $78k–$105k, from 11 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 40%
- ✓ Tooling 36%
- Machining 33%
- CNC 30%
- Lean 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for EHS / safety, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Coherent
We found 3 people at this company and state: 3 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Jack → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Coherent in Santa Clara
2 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in manufacturing roles at Coherent.
- Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
- Sr. Director of Business Operations · Production · Director+
Full description from CoherentAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Clean optical components under microscope
- ◆Set up optical alignment stations
- ◆Manually handle, align and install diverse optical components using adjustment fixtures while monitoring diverse optical parameters, and continue to adjust alignment optimize and balance all optical parameters until these parameters reach optimal and meet specs.
- ◆Do optical performance test for WSS optical assembly
- ◆Apply and cure UV glues to fix optical components
- ◆Inspect own work according to quality specifications
- ◆Produce work that meets workmanship standards and strict quality criteria
- ◆Perform incoming inspections
- ◆Cross-trained for upstream and downstream operations
- ◆Load and unload alignment stations
- ◆Correctly enter numerical data
- ◆Documentation and communication of suggestions for continuous improvement
- ◆Maintains a good record concerning absenteeism and tardiness
Education & Experience
- ✓High school diploma or equivalent preferred
- ✓Basic reading and math skills (add, subtract, multiply and divide)
- ✓3+ years of experience in fiber optics related field
- ✓Experience in optical alignment and assembly using fixtures, hand tools and test equipment preferred
- ✓Demonstrated ability to work in a team based environment
- ✓Demonstrated ability to achieve results independently and work with others
- ✓Ability to recommend and implement improvements
- ✓Good interpersonal and communication skills
Requirements
- ✓Able to wear plastic/latex gloves or finger cots.
Safety
Requirements
All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Quality and Environmental
Responsibilities
Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and
responsibilities
within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.
Culture Commitment
Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:
I ntegrity – Create an Environment of Trust
C ollaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas
A ccountability – Own the Process and the Outcome
R espect – Recognize the Value in Everyone
E nthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work
Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!
Note to recruiters and employment agencies: We will not pay for unsolicited resumes from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have required assistance, in writing, for a specific opening.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Skills
- •Good manual dexterity
- •Ability to visually inspect optics for cleanliness/defects using a microscope
- •Ability to clean optical components
- •Ability to manually handle, align and install diverse optical components
- •Ability to monitor diverse optical parameters and to align optical components to optimize and balance all optical parameters until these parameters reach optimum and meet specs.
- •Ability to provide feedback in the development of new processes, tools and techniques working with the Engineering team
- •Ability to work independently with minimal guidance from the supervisor
- •Ability to solve problems & make correct decisions in short timeframes, oftentimes with minimal supervision
- •Ability to excel in a cross-organizational, cross cultural, global team environment
- •Handle special assignments with speed and effectiveness
Working Conditions
- •R&D engineering lab and manufacturing cleanroom
Physical
