Senior Development Technician
Picarro, IncSanta Clara, California, United States · Posted Jul 30, 2025Description
Senior Development Technician at Picarro Santa Clara, CA
The Opportunity
Picarro is seeking a hands-on and detail-oriented Development Technician to support the development of our next-generation spectroscopy platforms and gas measurement products. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with complex systems, assembling precision instruments, and collaborating closely with engineers to bring innovative designs to life.
As a Development Technician, you will be part of a world-class team working with cutting-edge technologies such as Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy (CRDS) and broadband lasers. You’ll play a key role in building, testing, and refining prototypes and pilot systems, helping to ensure our products meet the highest standards of performance and reliability.
This position reports to the Director of Opto-Mechanical Engineering.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a hands-on technician who thrives on solving problems, learning new skills, and contributing to the development of high-performance systems. You’ll be the first to assemble new designs, identify and troubleshoot issues, and work closely with engineers to improve processes and product quality. You’re curious, adaptable, and eager to grow your expertise in optics, mechanics, electronics, and spectroscopy.
Key Responsibilities
· Assemble and test new electro-optomechanical systems and prototypes.
· Follow and help refine assembly procedures for new designs.
· Support engineering pilot builds and assist in transferring products to manufacturing.
· Set up and operate tooling stations; assist in developing and documenting new tools and processes.
· Collaborate with engineers to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.
· Maintain detailed records of builds, tests, and process improvements.
· Train other technicians on new procedures and tools.
Technical Skills and Expertise
· Assembly & Troubleshooting: Skilled in assembling precision systems and identifying issues during build and test phases.
· Optical Components: Familiarity with or willingness to learn about lasers, detectors, isolators, and coated optics.
· Mechanical Precision: Comfortable working with tight mechanical tolerances and alignment processes.
· Attachment Techniques: Exposure to or interest in learning UV/thermal epoxies, soldering, and laser welding.
· Testing & Reliability: Assist in reliability testing and reporting; support mitigation efforts.
· Tooling & Process Development: Participate in the setup and improvement of tooling and assembly processes.
· Documentation: Detail-oriented with a commitment to maintaining accurate and thorough documentation.
Qualifications and Experience
· Associate’s degree in a technical field (e.g., Mechanical Technology, Electronics, Optics) or equivalent hands-on experience.
· 5+ years of experience in a technician role, preferably in a development or manufacturing environment.
· Basic understanding of optics, mechanics, electronics, and software systems.
· Experience using hand tools, measurement instruments, and assembly equipment.
· Strong communication and teamwork skills.
· Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Preferred Qualifications
· Passion for working at the intersection of research and product development.
· Experience supporting engineering teams in prototype builds and process development.
The base salary range for this full-time position is $55K to $75K. Our total compensation packages include base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity. Your base salary range and title will be determined based on the location, experience, qualification, skills, knowledge, level, and pay of employees in similar positions.
We offer a comprehensive benefit package including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
- Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
- Employee Referral Program
- 401K
- Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
- On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu-shots, etc.)
About Picarro:
We are the world's leader in timely, trusted, and actionable data using enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including natural gas leak detection, ethylene oxide emissions monitoring, semiconductor fabrication, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. Our software and hardware are designed and manufactured in Santa Clara, California and are used in over 90 countries worldwide based on over 65 patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology and are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, and reliability.
At Picarro, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.
At Picarro, we strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact Picarro, Inc. at disabilityassistance@picarro.com for assistance.
Similar jobs
Est. 65,000 USD
Electro-Optical Technician Santa Clara, CA (Onsite) The Opportunity We are seeking a hands-on Electro-Optical Technician to support electrical board rework, troubleshooting, board bring-up, test, and assembly of next-gen…
Est. 142,500 USD
Opto-Mechanical Engineer II Santa Clara, CA (Onsite) The Opportunity We are seeking a hands-on, mid-level Opto-Mechanical Engineer to help design, build, align, test, and productize next-generation spectroscopy platforms…
Est. 130,000 USD
Optical Engineer Santa Clara, CA (Onsite) The Opportunity We are seeking a hands-on, mid-level Optical Engineer to help develop, model, optimize, test, and productize next-generation spectroscopy platforms and gas measur…
Est. 170,000 USD
Role: Senior Software Engineer – Integrated Systems Location: Santa Clara, CA Job Term: Full-time; In-office 5 days a week The Opportunity: Picarro is building the next generation of integrated solutions that incorporate…
Est. 175,000 USD
Senior Electrical Engineer Location: Sana Clara, CA Role Summary: We’re hiring a Senior Electrical Engineer – Mixed-Signal & Digital Systems to design and deliver the next generation of cavity ring-down spectroscopy…
Est. 210,000 USD
Senior Staff Software Engineer Location: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite) Group: Analyzer Product Group (APG), Engineering Role Summary Picarro is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer to take a leading role in architecting a…
Est. 125,000 USD
Systems Engineer - Firmware & Instrument Control Company: PicarroLocation: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite)Education: Bachelor’s Degree Required (Advanced degree preferred) Position Overview Picarro is seeking a Systems Engi…
Est. 177,500 USD
Title: Senior Technical Program Manager Location: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite) Job Term: Full-Time Opportunity: We are seeking a seasoned Technical Program Manager to join our engineering organization in Santa Clara, CA. In…
Est. 125,000 USD
Systems Software Engineer Company: PicarroLocation: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite)Education: Bachelor’s Degree Required Position Overview Picarro is seeking a Systems Software Engineer to design, develop, and maintain robust s…
Est. 125,000 USD
Systems Software Engineer Company: PicarroLocation: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite)Education: Bachelor’s Degree Required Position Overview Picarro is seeking a Systems Software Engineer to design, develop, and maintain robust s…
Est. 150,000 USD
Senior Software Engineer Cloud Software & Data Platform We are seeking a senior individual contributor who owns significant areas of Picarro’s cloud software and data platform end to end—from architecture through pro…
Est. 145,000 USD
Senior Quality Engineer Job Location: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite) Job Term: Full-Time The Opportunity: We are seeking an experienced Senior Quality Engineer to play a critical role in sustaining Picarro’s ISO 9001:2015-cert…
Est. 175,000 USD
Who we are: Picarro Inc., based in Santa Clara, CA, is a leading technology company specializing in high-precision gas analyzers and optical spectroscopy instruments, built on Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) for ult…
Est. 165,000 USD
Senior Engineer, FPGA Location: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite)Department: EngineeringReports To: Director of Hardware Engineering Picarro is a global leader in precision measurement technology, developing advanced analytical i…
Est. 207,500 USD
Software Engineering Manager Cloud Software, Data Platform & AI-Agentic Product Engineering The Software Engineering Manager leads a team of engineers building Picarro's cloud software, data platform, and AI-agentic…
Est. 160,000 USD
Senior Mobile Software Engineer Android & iOS A senior mobile engineer who owns Picarro's mobile experience — field-facing companion apps that connect to physical instruments and the cloud/data platform. This role re…
Est. 110,000 USD
Optical Manufacturing Engineer Picarro is a leading provider of solutions for measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, trace gases, and stable isotopes across various scientific applications, as well as the semicon…
Est. 140,000 USD
Data Scientist Job Location: Santa Clara, CA (preferred) or Remote – US-based Job Term: Full-Time The Opportunity Picarro's instruments and analytics power industrial emissions detection, from methane and VOC leak detect…
Est. 132,500 USD
Product Manager, Natural Gas Santa Clara, CA - Onsite THE OPPORTUNITY Picarro is looking for a talented and driven Product Manager to join our Natural Gas team at our Santa Clara headquarters. This is an exciting opportu…
Est. 245,000 USD
Head of Human Resources Location: Santa Clara, CA (On-Site, 5 days a week) Reports To: COO Picarro is seeking a strategic as well as operationally minded, business-driven Head of Human Resources to lead and scale our glo…
Est. 147,500 USD
Senior Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Location: Santa Clara, CADepartment: FinanceReports To: Head of FP&AWork Schedule: Full-time | Onsite (5 days per week) About Picarro Picarro is a global leader in…
Est. 125,000 USD
Forward Deployment Engineer - Oil, Gas & Chemicals Travel: ≤70% Location: Remote USA, CA or TX preferred The Opportunity: Picarro's Fenceline Monitoring Solution delivers continuous, real-time emissions intelligence…
Est. 180,000 USD
Director, Customer Success – Gas (Americas) Job Title: Director, Customer Success – Gas (Americas) Department: Customer Success Reports to: Vice President, Customer Success and Analytics Location: Santa Clara, CA or Remo…
Est. 140,000 USD
Director of Sales – Oil, Gas & Chemicals (Fenceline Solutions)Location: Houston, TX (Preferred) | Remote – Gulf Coast RegionReports To: Chief Commercial OfficerAbout PicarroPicarro is a global leader in precision mea…
Est. 80,000 USD
Client Program Specialist Job Title: Client Program Specialist Department: Customer Success Location: Santa Clara, CA or Remote (US) Position Summary This role is part of Picarro's Customer Success organization, supporti…
Est. 120,000 USD
Sales Manager – U.S. Refining (Fenceline Solutions) ROLE TYPE: Individual Contributor (no direct reports) Location: Santa Clara, CA or Remote US BACKGROUND Picarro’s entry into the U.S. Refining market through our Fencel…
Est. 150,000 USD
Product Designer, Industrial Solutions Location: US Remote Job Term: Full-Time The Opportunity Picarro is looking for a Product Designer to own the design portfolio across our Industrial Solutions products. This is a han…
Est. 120,000 USD
Sales Manager – Industrial Solutions – Sterilizers AmericasLocation: US – Flexible, with ~75% Travel (Explore, Connect, Deliver!)Term: Full-time – Drive growth and make an impact! Role Overview Are you ready to drive gro…
Est. 140,000 USD
Product Marketing Manager, Industrial Solutions Location: Santa Clara (Picarro HQ) / Remote Job Term: Full-Time The Opportunity Picarro is seeking a Product Marketing Manager to lead the go-to-market strategy for our Ind…
Est. 65,000 EUR
Account Manager – EMEA (Scientific Instrumentation) Location: Netherlands (Eindhoven) or Remote within EMEAJob Type: Full-TimeReports to: Associate Director, Sales – EMEA Role Overview This position combines technical ex…