Full-Time

Staff Systems Engineer

Posted on 8/21/2025

SirenOpt

SirenOpt

11-50 employees

Sensors and software for thin-film R&D

Compensation Overview

$125k - $165k/yr

San Leandro, CA, USA

In Person

Category
Hardware Engineering (1)
Requirements
  • B.S. in Engineering or Physics with 7+ years of industry experience, M.S. with 5+ years, or Ph.D. with 3+ years of relevant experience
  • Experience developing automated metrology, inspection or diagnostic systems from initial requirements through system design, verification and validation, product launch and customer support
  • Experience in early-stage research and development applying structured experiments and analyses (e.g., design of experiments) to evaluate concepts and guide system architecture
  • Proficiency with Python, C, MATLAB, LabVIEW or other simulation/modeling tools to model and evaluate system performance
  • Experience with hands-on development of prototypes, subsystems and system testing
  • Experience with initiating and maintaining supplier support
  • Experience with maintaining awareness of customer needs and iterating on designs accordingly
  • Experience leading multidisciplinary teams (software, electrical, mechanical, and application scientists) in integration of complex systems and solving cross-functional issues including root cause analysis and data-driven decision making
  • Experience in project-level leadership, including planning, coordination, and execution of system development activities
Responsibilities
  • Contribute to the architecture, system design and validation of the low-temperature plasma-based metrology sensor
  • Interface with a small cross-functional project team to research, develop, and validate new concepts for low-temperature plasma-based metrology, and provide on-site support to research and industrial customers
  • Perform fundamental studies to characterize and understand the sensitivity of the sensor performance to various environmental factors
  • Interact with both small and large clients to iterate on the design based on their feedback, focusing on integration speed
  • Create and maintain technical design documentation including requirements, specifications, test plans, wiring diagrams, part schematics, and test reports
  • Lead root cause analysis and other systematic problem-solving activities involving data analysis, experiments planning and execution to address system performance issues and drive design improvements across Mechanical, Electrical, Software, and Firmware disciplines
  • Be responsible for one or more project schedules and deliverables within larger R&D program including interface with suppliers to deliver complex custom-designed components on time and within budget
  • Participate in field installations and service/upgrade activities of SirenOpt instruments at customers' sites with 10-15% travel (domestic and international)
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with manufacturing metrology equipment and sensors, particularly for fabrication of advanced materials and coatings
  • Familiarity with thin films, especially those related to Lithium- and Zinc-based battery electrodes, photovoltaics, optical coatings, displays, packaging materials, semiconducting wafers, and/or adhesives
  • Familiarity with high-voltage devices and understanding plasma technologies is very helpful
  • Prior exposure to high-precision, high-throughput industrial designs for material handling, metrology, and/or process automation applications
  • Prior involvement in project management of complex R&D or product development programs
  • Japanese fluency is a huge plus

SirenOpt creates sensors and software to speed up research and development and make manufacturing of high-performance thin films cheaper. Its hardware sensors collect real-time data on thin-film processes, while the accompanying software analyzes the data, runs models, and helps users optimize production. The company combines both hardware and software with consulting services to help clients integrate these tools into existing workflows. This blend of devices, analytics, and advisory support sets SirenOpt apart from others who may focus on just one part of the stack. The goal is to help customers in electronics, renewable energy, and advanced materials innovate quickly and produce high-quality thin films at lower costs, enabling scalable, efficient manufacturing.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$18.5M

Headquarters

Oakland, California

Founded

2022

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • $6.6M seed funding from Voyager Ventures accelerates PlasmaSens commercialization.
  • $2.4M California Energy Commission grant boosts battery manufacturing adoption.
  • Cold plasma sensors gain traction in roll-to-roll renewable energy production.

What critics are saying

  • KLA Corporation blocks adoptions with 40% metrology market share.
  • Suzhou PlasmaTech undercuts prices by 50% in Asia electronics chains.
  • PlasmaSens AI fails 80% pilots, burns cash in 18-24 months.

What makes SirenOpt unique

  • SirenOpt uses cold atmospheric plasma for non-destructive thin film inspection.
  • PlasmaSens integrates AI analytics for real-time manufacturing insights.
  • Targets battery electrodes and electronics with 2026 factory deployments.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-2%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

5%
Tech Funding News
Oct 14th, 2025
SirenOpt raises $6.5M for PlasmaSens expansion

California startup SirenOpt has raised $6.5M in a funding round led by Hitachi Ventures and InMotion Ventures, with participation from Voyager Ventures and Visionaries Tomorrow. The funds will enhance the development of its AI-powered PlasmaSens platform for real-time, non-destructive manufacturing inspection. SirenOpt also received a $2.4M grant from the California Energy Commission to advance PlasmaSens for battery electrode manufacturing, with full deployments expected by 2026.

Manufacturing Tomorrow
Jul 23rd, 2024
SirenOpt Raises $6.6M in Seed Funding to Transform Materials Manufacturing Blind Spots into Real-Time Insights Using Cold Atmospheric Plasma

SirenOpt raises $6.6M in seed funding to transform materials manufacturing blind spots into real-time insights using cold atmospheric plasma.

VC News Daily
Jul 23rd, 2024
SirenOpt Secures $6.6M Seed Funding

SirenOpt, an advanced manufacturing intelligence company, has closed a $6.6 million seed funding round. The round was led by Voyager Ventures and TOMORROW (part of Visionaries Club), with participation from Climate Club, Union Labs, Berkeley Skydeck Fund, Wireframe Ventures, Impact Science Ventures, Access Industries, Courtyard Ventures, and Climate Capital. The funding will support SirenOpt's efforts in sustainable and smart manufacturing of advanced materials.

My Science Career
Jun 22nd, 2023
Cyclotron Road Announces 2023 Cohort of Entrepreneurial Fellows | myScience / news / science wire

Jared O’Leary, SirenOpt : SirenOpt is developing a real-time sensing and software platform that improves the manufacturing performance and yield of batteries, solar cells, and carbon conversion technologies.

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