Manufacturing Engineer Job Posting – Boulder, CO
Colorado Photonics · Boulder, CO
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $85k–$120k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Colorado Photonics (industrial) in Boulder, CO. Develops new processes to optimize and expand existing manufacturing capabilities.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- ISO 9001, Tooling
- Base pay
- $85k–$120k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Colorado: typical posted base $97k–$136k. This one lists $85k–$120k.
Median of the low and high ends of 22 live postings that list pay, out of 35 manufacturing engineer openings in Colorado, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Colorado plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 34 other live manufacturing postings in Colorado.
- Base pay
- About 12% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $97k–$136k, from 21 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 57%
- ✓ Tooling 51%
- Six Sigma 46%
- New product launch 40%
- Root cause 37%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 31%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention 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 Colorado Photonics
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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.
Full description from Colorado PhotonicsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Develops new processes to optimize and expand existing manufacturing capabilities.
- ◆Designs polishing tools and fixtures.
- ◆Troubleshoots and corrects production process problems in a timely manner.
- ◆Trains and educates personnel involved with job processes in an easily understood format
- ◆Documents production problem solutions and new production processes.
- ◆Evaluates new equipment to determine its most efficient use, operation, and maintenance.
- ◆Determines machine maintenance procedures and support.
- ◆Learns, understands, and implements ISO 9001:2015 to ensure compliance.
- ◆Analyze customer orders to determine the best manufacturing process.
Requirements
- ✓Bachelor’s Degree in Physics, Material Science, or Electrical or Mechanical Science
- ✓At least 7 years of engineering experience, in the Optics industry
- ✓Ability to take direction and to work independently
- ✓Have a methodical and detail-oriented approach to work
- ✓Work well with time and production restrictions
- ✓Able to interpret and apply a variety of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
- ✓Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Alpine Research Optics is looking for an Experienced Manufacturing Engineer to join our team! If you thrive in a technical environment and have previous experience in the Optics industry, we would love to talk with you about this exciting opportunity!
Established in 1991, Alpine Research Optics has a distinguished reputation for providing optics to the laser, semiconductor, and medical & scientific research markets, produced in its clean modern facility in Boulder, CO. We are very proud to have many of the world-renowned universities and national laboratories as permanent customers. Learn more online at https://arocorp.com/.
About our benefits
ARO offers a competitive benefits package for our full-time employees, including: medical, dental, & vision insurance, life insurance, short-term disability, simple IRA with company match, paid holidays, and paid vacation.
SALARY: $85,000-$120,000/annual
Learn more about this, and other great career opportunities, by heading over to the A.R.O. website. Click HERE to be directed!