Optical Systems Engineer

Physics, Simulation & Hard Problem Solving   Location :
Rotterdam, NL  Commitment :
Full time  Experience : 5+ years
The Mission   At Add Optics, we develop next-generation ophthalmic and vision solutions. We're a small, fast-moving tech team where every person owns their domain. We're looking for an Optical Systems Engineer who thrives on solving the hard problems — someone who can model a lens stack from first principles, run the simulations, and give the rest of the team a clear answer when the physics gets complicated.
What You’ll Be Working On   Building and running optical simulations of complex lens stacks — multiple surfaces, curvatures, air gaps, materials — and knowing what the output actually means  Digging into the hard physics questions that don't have an obvious answer: aberration behaviour, wavefront error, tolerance sensitivity, edge cases
Developing simulation frameworks and scripts that let the team interrogate optical performance quickly and reliably
Challenging and validating design assumptions — if the numbers don't add up, you find out why
Learning the ophthalmic domain (Rx language, dioptric power, prescription-to-optics translation) and becoming the person who bridges that gap internally
Working directly with engineers on live customer projects as the go-to source of optical truth
What We’re Looking For   A strong foundation in physics — you understand what's happening at the wavefront, not just what the software puts out
5+ years of hands-on experience in optical design and simulation
Proficiency in Optic Studio (Zemax), CODE V, or equivalent optical design tools
Comfort with scripting or coding to automate or extend simulations (Python, MATLAB)
Experience designing optical systems with multiple refractive elements, curvatures, and air gaps
Familiarity with ophthalmic optics or a genuine appetite to learn the domain fast
The ability to communicate clearly with non-optical engineers — you can explain what the simulation is telling you without losing the room
A degree in Applied Physics, Photonics, or Optical Engineering
The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here   You're comfortable being the only optical expert in the room. You don't wait for someone to tell you what to investigate — you follow the physics. You care about the end product, not just the elegance of the model. And when an engineer on a customer project needs an answer, you provide one they can act on.
What you’ll get   A  high-ownership, high-impact role  in a growing deep tech company
The chance to  shape how optical design is done  at Add Optics — from tooling to process
Close  collaboration with a sharp, cross-functional team  that respects domain expertise
We take the work seriously, and we  take the time to celebrate what we achieve together
Competitive salary and benefits