Prototype Engineer — Customer Projects

Lead the Project. Guide the Customer. Deliver the Result.

Location:

Rotterdam, NL  Commitment:  Full time

Experience:

3+ years

You're the kind of engineer who's just as comfortable in a customer call as on the lab bench.

At Add Optics, we partner with R&D and product development teams who are building next‑generation optical devices. They come to us at a critical moment — when they need to validate their design, test their assumptions, and get prototypes in their hands fast. The Prototype Engineer is the person who makes that process work.

You’ll own projects from first conversation to final delivery, guide customers through a structured PoC process, and build the kind of trust that turns a first project into a long‑term partnership. You’ll work closely with our Sales team to navigate the customer relationship — and you’ll be the engineering voice they rely on throughout.

What You’ll Be Working On

Doing the actual engineering work — hands‑on assessment of customer lens designs, building and testing prototypes, and validating performance against spec

Leading customer prototype projects end to end — from initial technical intake and feasibility assessment through PoC, iteration, and final delivery

Running the PoC process: helping customers understand whether their design is feasible, what needs to change, and what the prototype results mean for their next move

Being the primary engineering contact for your customers throughout the project — building trust through technical credibility, clear communication, and reliable follow‑through

Working closely with Sales to navigate the customer relationship: understanding priorities, managing expectations, and knowing when to escalate

Driving fast, structured iteration cycles — taking customer test feedback, translating it into engineering action, and turning around the next prototype without losing rigour

Translating between what the customer wants, what the design says, and what manufacturing can actually deliver

Contributing to how we continuously improve the prototype process, documentation, and customer handover

What We’re Looking For

3–7 years in a customer‑facing technical role — applications engineering, technical project management, field engineering, or similar

Solid engineering foundations — you can hold your own in a technical conversation with an R&D engineer and earn their respect quickly

Experience guiding customers through a structured technical or development process (PoC, qualification, NPI, or equivalent)

Strong project ownership: you track your projects, communicate proactively, and don't wait to be chased

The ability to context‑switch between the detail of a technical problem and the bigger picture of what the customer is trying to achieve

Comfort working in a fast‑paced, iterative environment where priorities can shift and you need to adapt without losing quality

A BSc or MSc in Engineering, Applied Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field

The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here
You understand that in a commercial prototype environment, the relationship and the result are equally important. You communicate early, clearly, and honestly — especially when there's a challenge. You take pride not just in delivering a prototype, but in making sure the customer knows exactly what it tells them and what to do next. And you genuinely enjoy the dynamic of working directly with people who are building something ambitious.

What You’ll Get

Direct ownership of customer projects in a growing, high‑impact team

Regular exposure to cutting‑edge optical and vision technology development

A close‑knit team where people genuinely know and support each other

We take the work seriously, and we take the time to celebrate what we achieve together

Competitive salary and benefits

Interested? Are you enthusiastic? Send your motivation letter and CV to us via

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