Optical Engineer

Optics Engineer

The Optics Engineer is responsible for the design, development, characterization, validation, and technical support of automotive camera products. Responsibilities include development of lens, imager, camera-system, and optical test specifications; optical performance optimization; advanced laboratory characterization; manufacturing and calibration support; and resolution of complex optical performance issues throughout the product-development lifecycle.

The role may be assigned primarily to Optical Development, Optical Test and Characterization, or a combination of both, based on program and organizational needs. The engineer works independently on intermediate-to-advanced assignments and serves as a technical resource within cross-functional and global teams.

Job Responsibilities:

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have current and ongoing authorization to work in the United States.

• Lead optical design and development activities for automotive camera products, including requirements definition, component evaluation, implementation, test, debug, and design release.
• Develop optical architectures and system-level specifications for lenses, CMOS imagers, illumination paths, filters, and complete camera systems.
• Evaluate CMOS image sensors and optimize camera performance through imager configuration, register tuning, and quantitative image-quality assessment.
• Develop or specify multi-element lenses optimized for automotive near-field and far-field applications.
• Perform optical tolerancing, sensitivity analysis, and design-tradeoff assessments that balance performance, robustness, manufacturability, and cost.
• Provide technical ownership of optical performance requirements and support program milestones, design reviews, customer deliverables, and launch readiness.
• Identify optical technical risks and define practical mitigation plans to protect program timing, quality, and customer commitments.

• Develop, implement, validate, and continuously improve optical test methods for lenses, image sensors, and complete automotive camera systems.
• Perform advanced optical characterization, including MTF and spatial resolution, distortion, relative illumination, color and spectral response, noise and dynamic range, flare, stray light, ghosting, veiling glare, and overall image quality.
• Develop test specifications, procedures, acceptance criteria, correlation methods, measurement-system analyses, and reporting templates for camera development programs.
• Design and automate optical test processes to improve throughput, repeatability, data quality, and utilization of laboratory equipment.
• Analyze complex optical performance issues, use quantitative data to determine root cause, and recommend corrective actions to development, manufacturing, supplier, and customer teams.
• Plan and execute validation activities throughout the development lifecycle while enabling parallel support of multiple programs without compromising technical rigor.
• Evaluate emerging optical measurement technologies and characterization methods that improve next-generation camera development and validation.

• Interface with mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, systems, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to ensure seamless integration of the optical system into the ECU and camera module.
• Assess the effects of mechanical packaging, assembly tolerances, thermal behavior, contamination, calibration, electronics, and software processing on optical performance.
• Support manufacturing process development, assembly, end-of-line testing, calibration, yield improvement, and correlation between development and production measurement systems.
• Support customer escalations, field investigations, design-validation issues, and structured corrective-action activities using disciplined problem-solving methods.

• Serve as a technical resource and subject-matter expert for camera optics, optical characterization, image-quality analysis, and test methodology.
• Mentor engineers and technicians in optical measurement techniques, data interpretation, laboratory practices, and structured problem solving.
• Drive continuous-improvement initiatives that increase optical test efficiency, technical depth, repeatability, and organizational capability.
• Provide clear, data-based technical recommendations to internal leadership, cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customers.
• Contribute to optical technology roadmaps, lessons learned, standard methods, reusable tools, and knowledge transfer across global engineering teams.
• Perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives, safety requirements, and the Quality Operating System.

• Master's degree in optical engineering, applied physics, electrical engineering, imaging science, or a related…