Supplier Development Engineer - Advanced Photonics & Precision Manufacturing

Company: Approach Venture
Location: El Segundo
Posted on: February 16, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Supplier Development Engineer – Advanced Photonics & Precision Manufacturing! Los Angeles, CA | On-site Travel: Frequent domestic and international travel, including Europe and the San Francisco Bay Area Opportunity Summary A fast-growing, venture-backed hardware company is building next-generation optical and photonic systems that push the limits of physics and manufacturing. The team is scaling highly specialized hardware that combines semiconductor-style wafer processing, precision optical assemblies, and tightly controlled manufacturing processes that have not historically operated at volume. This Supplier Development Engineer will play a critical role in executing an aggressive supply chain roadmap, with immediate impact over the next two months and sustained ownership over the next year. This role is hands-on, externally facing, and execution-driven, with significant time spent on-site at suppliers to ensure timelines, quality, and process readiness are met. If you thrive in environments where speed, technical depth, and accountability matter, this role offers a rare opportunity to help shape a global supplier ecosystem from the ground up. About Us We are a deep-technology hardware company focused on unlocking new capabilities in optical and photonic systems through vertically integrated design, manufacturing, and software. Our team brings together expertise across physics, engineering, and advanced manufacturing to develop hardware platforms that operate at extreme tolerances and scale. With strong financial backing and ambitious production goals, we are building the foundation for one of the most advanced optical manufacturing operations in North America. Job Duties Execute supplier development activities tied to an aggressive manufacturing and supply chain timeline, with near-term milestones requiring immediate focus Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers, processes, and equipment capable of supporting advanced photonic and optical hardware Work directly with silicon photonics and wafer processing vendors to ensure on-time delivery, yield improvement, and process stability Travel extensively to supplier sites, including Europe and the Bay Area, to drive execution, resolve issues, and accelerate readiness Develop and qualify suppliers producing components with sub-micron tolerances and demanding optical, thermal, and reliability requirements Partner with suppliers to define process flows, quality standards, inspection methods, and in-line controls Lead supplier-side investigations related to yield, reliability, and performance, coordinating corrective actions and continuous improvement Collaborate cross-functionally with internal engineering and manufacturing teams to align supplier capabilities with product requirements Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Physics, or a closely related technical field Strong foundational knowledge in mechanical engineering, manufacturing processes, semiconductors, or photonics 3 years of experience working with external vendors, suppliers, or manufacturing partners, or a demonstrated ability to ramp quickly in supplier-facing roles Comfortable operating in fast-paced, ambiguous environments where priorities evolve rapidly Preferred Experience Background in process engineering or mechanical engineering Experience supporting high-volume or scale-up manufacturing environments Working knowledge of GD&T and precision tolerance analysis Exposure to optical components, photonics manufacturing, or semiconductor-style processes Why Join Us Opportunity to make an immediate, visible impact on a critical production timeline Direct ownership of supplier relationships and manufacturing outcomes Hands-on role with significant autonomy and decision-making responsibility Fast-growing startup environment with meaningful technical challenges Collaborative, highly technical team focused on solving problems that have not been solved before Compensation Details $120,000 - $180,000

Keywords: Approach Venture, South Gate , Supplier Development Engineer - Advanced Photonics & Precision Manufacturing, Engineering , El Segundo, California