Technical Field Applications Engineer (Optical Displacement Sensing)

About us:
Aeva’s mission is to bring the next wave of perception to a broad range of applications from automated driving to industrial robotics, consumer electronics, consumer health, security, and beyond. Aeva is transforming autonomy with its groundbreaking sensing and perception technology that integrates all key LiDAR components onto a silicon photonics chip in a compact module. Aeva 4D LiDAR sensors uniquely detect instant velocity in addition to 3D position, allowing autonomous devices like vehicles and robots to make more intelligent and safe decisions.

Role Overview:
We are looking for a technically strong and customer-focused Field Applications Engineer (FAE) with experience in optical sensors, LiDAR, or displacement sensing. In this role, you will be the technical interface between our customers and our engineering teams—supporting product evaluations, solving complex application challenges, and ensuring an exceptional customer experience.
The ideal candidate is curious about customer applications, comfortable with complex systems, and excited to help customers succeed with cutting-edge sensing technologies.

What you’ll do::
• Act as the primary technical contact for customers using or evaluating our optical sensing products.
• Understand customer requirements and recommend suitable system configurations and solutions.
• Provide technical guidance on sensor integration, calibration, data interpretation, and optimization.
• Conduct product demos, application studies, proof-of-concept testing, and onsite support.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, and system-level issues in the lab and at customer sites.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Product, and Sales to communicate customer needs and influence roadmap decisions.
• Create technical content: application notes, integration guides, troubleshooting documents, and demo scripts.
• Support automation, testing, and data analysis activities using Python (as needed).
• Ensure high customer satisfaction through responsive communication and proactive problem-solving.
• Travel to customer sites, industry events, and field deployments (approx. 20%).

What you’ll have::
• Master’s or PhD degree in Optics, Physics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience working with optical sensors, LiDAR systems, displacement sensors, or similar technologies.
• Strong understanding of optics, electronics, and complex system integration.
• Excellent communication and customer-facing skills.
• Comfortable working in hands-on lab environments and real-world field conditions.

Nice to have::
• Practical understanding of optics or optical metrology.
• Knowledge of algorithms, or signal processing workflows.
• Knowledge of coherent optical detection, such as FMCW, or interferometry
• Experience with complex or multi-component systems (optical, mechanical, electronic, software).
• Python skills for data analysis, automation, and scripting.
• Strong problem-solving mindset and curiosity about customer applications.
• Proven ability to focus on customer success and satisfaction.

What’s in it for you::
• Opportunity to work with leading-edge optical sensing and metrology technology.
• A high-impact, customer-facing role with direct influence on product and application success.
• Collaborative environment with strong support from engineering and leadership teams.
• Very competitive compensation and meaningful stock grants
• Exceptional benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, and more
• Unlimited PTO: We care about results, not punching timecards