I applied online. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Vescent Photonics (Golden, CO) in Feb 2026
Interview
HR interview (30 min), hiring manager interview (1 hr), full day interview (5.5 hrs including lunch) with several teams, 45 min team specific interview. Very thorough about checking for team fit.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What is an instance where you failed on something? How did you handle it?
The hiring manager contacted me after seeing my resume online. The company didn't yet have a written rec, and turned out wasn't ready to hire. They tried to skip over pay range until I brought it up. The range was so low that I walked away. I've noticed that Vescent makes a point of not posting salary ranges (in spite of state law) and I suspect it is because they know no one will bother applying.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Are you ok working on technology used by the military?
