Senior Mechanical Engineer I

About the role

Alcon is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer I to develop, optimize, and sustain precision machining processes for ophthalmic optical lenses. The role focuses on ultra‑precision lathe operations in a regulated medical‑device environment, supporting new product introductions and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Support and optimize lathe‑based machining of spherical and toric ophthalmic lenses.
• Define cutting strategies, tooling (e.g., diamond tools), feeds, speeds, and setups to meet optical specifications.
• Conduct process characterization studies 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 and troubleshoot machining issues.
• Drive yield improvement, cycle‑time reduction, and scrap reduction initiatives.
• Assist with equipment installation, commissioning, calibration, and preventive maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 13485, GMP, and other medical‑device quality systems.
• Collaborate with Quality Engineering on non‑conformance investigations and corrective actions.
• Document and trace all process changes and support scale‑up to high‑volume production.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Several years of experience with precision machining of optical components.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities in a fast‑paced manufacturing setting.
• Excellent technical communication skills, both written and verbal.

Required skills

• Ultra‑precision lathe operation
• Diamond tooling selection and management
• CAD/CAM software proficiency
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology
• ISO 13485 and GMP compliance knowledge
• Metrology and surface roughness analysis
• Process characterization and optimization
• Root cause analysis and corrective action implementation
• Equipment installation, calibration, and preventive maintenance