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Salary: USD 216,000 - 255,000 / annual
Oura is seeking a Photonics Sensing Architect to design, engineer, and validate next-generation optical sensing technologies for wearable health platforms. You will work closely with the Director of Hardware Sensing in the San Francisco office to define sensor requirements, prototype new optical technologies, and integrate them into Oura's award-winning Ring product.
Key responsibilities include:
**Sensor Architecture & Design:** Define, prototype, and validate new optical sensors (Raman spectroscopy, photoacoustic, QCL, etc.) optimized for low-power wearable platforms. Translate sensing requirements into robust hardware specifications aligned with product goals.
**Development & Integration:** Lead integration of optical sensors into Oura hardware, ensuring proper calibration, noise management, power efficiency, and high-quality signal acquisition. Design and execute comprehensive sensor characterization and validation tests from prototype through production.
**Cross-Functional Leadership:** Collaborate with firmware, algorithm, and systems teams to ensure accurate sensor data feeds into Oura's signal processing and machine learning pipelines. Contribute to product planning and sensor roadmap discussions based on performance feedback and emerging technologies.
**Testing & Validation:** Develop and maintain rigorous test methodologies, metrics, and automation frameworks for sensor performance evaluation. Analyze sensor data to diagnose edge cases and performance bottlenecks, defining corrective actions.
**Supplier & Partner Coordination:** Engage with sensor vendors, partners, and manufacturers to assess technology options, secure components, and optimize integration into mass-production workflows.
**Documentation & Communication:** Produce clear technical documentation of sensor designs, trade studies, test plans, and performance metrics. Present findings and recommendations to engineering leadership and cross-disciplinary stakeholders.
This is a hybrid role based in San Francisco.
**Requirements:**
- 5+ years of optical and electrode sensor design and integration experience or equivalent sensor engineering roles
- Hands-on experience with optical and electrode sensors, and low-power embedded sensor interfaces
- Strong background in sensor characterization, signal quality analysis, embedded systems, and data integrity practices
- Excellent analytical problem-solving and written/verbal communication skills
- Collaborative mindset with proven experience working across hardware, firmware, and analytics teams
