Senior Mechanical Engineer I

At Alcon, we're passionate about enhancing sight and helping people see brilliantly. With more than 25,000 associates, we innovate fearlessly, champion progress, and act swiftly to impact global eye health. We foster an inclusive culture, recognizing your contributions and offering opportunities to grow your career like never before. Together, we make a difference in the lives of our patients and customers. Are you ready to join us?

Alcon is looking to hire a Senior Mechanical Engineer I.  This role is responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining precision machining processes for ophthalmic optical lenses using ultra-precision lathes. This role ensures high-quality, repeatable manufacturing of optical components that meet strict dimensional, surface finish, and optical performance requirements. The engineer works in a cross-functional team with R&D, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to support new product introductions and continuous process improvements in a regulated medical device environment. This will be an on-site position in Belmont, CA and

A typical day will include:

• Support and optimize lathe-based machining processes for ophthalmic lenses, including spherical and toric geometries
• Define cutting strategies, tooling selection (e.g., diamond tools), feeds, speeds, and setups to achieve optical and cosmetic specifications
• Support process characterization studies focusing on surface roughness, form accuracy, and tool wear
• Establish robust process windows and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Provide day-to-day technical support to production teams for precision lathe operations
• Troubleshoot machining issues related to surface defects, dimensional drift, tool life, or machine performance
• Drive yield improvement, cycle time reduction, and scrap reduction initiatives
• Support equipment installation, commissioning, calibration, and preventive maintenance
• Ensure machining processes comply with medical device quality systems (e.g., ISO 13485, GMP)
• Collaborate with Quality Engineering to support nonconformance investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
• Ensure full documentation and traceability of process changes
• Assist in translating optical designs into manufacturable machining processes
• Support prototype builds, pilot runs, and scale-up to high-volume production
• Participate in design for manufacturability and design for process reviews
• Analyze process data and metrology results to drive continuous improvement
• Apply statistical process control and DOE methodologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Attention to detail and commitment to product quality
• Clear technical communication, both written and verbal
• Proficiency with CAD/CAM software and manufacturing documentation tools

What you’ll bring to Alcon:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +10 yrs; Assoc.+6 yrs; M.S.+0 yrs)
• The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English
• 2 Years of Relevant Experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience machining ophthalmic lenses or optical components
• Familiarity with optical materials and coatings
• Experience with ultra-precision equipment (e.g., Nanotech, Optoform, DAC lathes)
• Knowledge of optical inspection methods (interferometry, profilometry, form measurement)
• Lean Six Sigma certification or similar continuous improvement training

HOW YOU CAN THRIVE:

• See your career like never before with focused growth and development opportunities
• Join Alcon’s mission to provide outstanding, innovative products and solutions to improve sight, improve lives, and grow your career!
• Alcon provides a robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, flexible time off and much more.

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Alcon’s Total Rewards programs are designed to align to incentives with business goals, encourage the right values and behaviors, and deliver long-term value.  The first layer of our rewards program is compensation.  We offer a combination of fixed pay and variable pay, which includes short-term incentives, and long-term incentives for eligible population.  Our benefits program provides security for life events through life and disability insurance, supports savings for retirement, promotes good health and well-being and supports associates and their families during times of illness.  To learn more about Alcon’s Corporate Social Responsibility including our Total Rewards, click here

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Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.