Full-Time
Application Engineer
Machine Safety & Interlocks
Posted on 9/9/2026
Ocean Optics
51-200 employees
Manufactures portable spectrometers and sensing solutions
Compensation Overview
$60k - $75k/yr
Erlanger, KY, USA
In Person
On-site in Erlanger/Cincinnati, Kentucky; the role requires travel to customer sites.
Bachelor's
 Solution Engineering |
|---|
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- 1–3 years of experience in an application, field-service, technical-support, or engineering role within an industrial, machinery, or automation setting.
- Familiarity with industrial safety systems, programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, and automation technologies.
- Machinery electrical knowledge or experience.
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving ability with physical, engineered products.
- Confident written and verbal communication with customers.
- Ability to collaborate across Design, Quality, Sales, and Engineering.
- A degree in Engineering or a relevant technical discipline; equivalent experience or qualifications are also considered.
- Provide expert application and troubleshooting support for machine-safety interlocking products by phone, email, and on-site.
- Manage daily customer inquiries through the technical-support inbox and phone line while meeting agreed key performance indicators.
- Diagnose complex product and application issues to identify root causes and effective fixes.
- Partner with the Sales team to help customers specify and integrate safety solutions using automation-system knowledge.
- Travel to customer sites to troubleshoot and resolve issues in the field.
- Support webinars, trade shows, and training sessions to drive product adoption.
- Capture customer feedback and provide real-world insight to product development.
- Build technical depth in emerging technologies including IO-Link Safety and electrical devices such as Remlive.
- Hands-on experience with industrial safety systems, programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, and automation technologies.
- Machinery electrical knowledge or experience.
Ocean Optics makes compact spectroscopy hardware and related optical sensing tools. Its flagship products are miniature, portable spectrometers used to measure light across wavelengths for scientists and engineers in fields like chemical analysis, environmental monitoring, and industrial sensing. The devices work by detecting light that passes through or reflects from a sample and translating it into a spectrum—the distribution of light by wavelength—using optical components and a small detector. The company differentiates itself with a modular approach and small, affordable spectrometers that can be integrated into custom systems or handheld devices, enabling researchers to build compact spectroscopic tools rather than relying on large, expensive lab equipment. Ocean Optics' goal is to broaden access to spectral data by providing versatile, scalable sensing solutions that allow users to deploy spectroscopy across a wide range of applications and environments.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Dunedin, Florida
Founded
1989
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Halma reported 16.2% photonics organic profit growth on June 11, 2026.
- Ocean Optics launched the SR2 spectrometer on July 30, 2026, with higher speed and SNR.
- Bioz tools drove record engagement in June 2025, strengthening inbound demand and citations.
What critics are saying
- Edmund Optics now controls a major global channel and can squeeze margins by 2027.
- Compact spectrometers face commoditization from Avantes, Hamamatsu, and Ocean Insight’s own resellers.
- If Halma reallocates capital toward faster-growth photonics, Ocean Optics loses strategic priority.
What makes Ocean Optics unique
- Ocean Optics commercialized the first miniature spectrometer and still defines portable spectroscopy.
- Halma listed Ocean Optics across six global offices on August 26, 2026.
- The September 22, 2025 Edmund Optics deal extends reach without building a sales force.
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Benefits
Performance Bonus
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 2%2 year growth
↑ 4%ORLANDO, Fla. - (August 14, 2025) - Ocean Optics, a pioneer in modular spectroscopy and a trusted name in optical sensing, is proud to announce a new Supplier Partner relationship with Edmund Optics.
To further enhance visibility and engagement, Ocean Optics has also added a Bioz Homepage Banner, ensuring that visitors immediately discover the powerful citation management capabilities available on its website.
Ocean Insight announces Richard Curran as new president.
Ocean Insight has been named the Best Place to Work in both Central Florida and New York state.
Orlando, Florida, USA (May 4, 2023) – Ocean Optics, a brand of Ocean Insight, introduces compact, versatile Ocean SR series spectrometers distinguished by their rapid spectral acquisition speed and high signal to noise ratio (SNR) performance.