Optical Engineer

Position: Staff Optical Engineer
The Staff Optical Engineer serves as a senior technical expert responsible for leading the architecture, design, analysis, and delivery of advanced optical systems and technologies. This role drives innovation across imaging, illumination, and opto-mechanical systems while mentoring engineering teams and guiding complex product development from concept through manufacturing release.

The Staff Optical Engineer is recognized as a key technical expert and collaborates cross-functionally to influence product strategy, solve high-impact engineering challenges, and ensure world-class optical performance.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of next-generation optical architectures, imaging systems, illumination systems, and custom opto-mechanical assemblies.
• Define optical system requirements and translate them into detailed design specifications.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on geometrical optics, physical optics, laser systems, and optical metrology.
• Drive innovation by evaluating emerging technologies, materials, and design methodologies relevant to product roadmap needs.
• Perform advanced optical modeling, simulation, and optimization using industry tools such as Zemax, Code V, FRED, and Light Tools.
• Conduct complex tolerance analyses, sensitivity studies, stray-light analysis, and system performance modeling.
• Lead root-cause investigations for optical performance issues across prototypes and production systems.
• Establish optical design, best practices, quality standards, and review processes.
• Oversee and participate in hands-on laboratory work, including optical assembly, alignment, and performance characterization.
• Guide development of metrology methods and test stations using interferometers, autocollimators, spectrophotometers, lasers, and custom equipment.
• Validate system performance through data analysis of MTF, wavefront error, distortion, noise, and other key metrics.
• Partner with mechanical, electrical, systems, and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure robust opto-mechanical integration.
• Provide strategic technical input during concept reviews, design trade studies, risk assessments, and product design reviews.
• Work closely with vendors and suppliers to evaluate components, materials, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Mentor junior and mid-level optical engineers in design methodology, laboratory techniques, modeling, and best practices.
• Lead technical reviews, provide constructive feedback, and foster growth of optical engineering competencies across the organization.
• Act as a technical representative during customer engagements, requirement discussions, and design presentations.
• Support transition from prototype to high-throughput manufacturing, including tolerance optimization, process documentation, and production troubleshooting.

Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or related discipline;
  Master's or PhD strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in optical design, analysis, and testing.
• Deep proficiency with optical simulation tools (Zemax, Code V, FRED, Light Tools, or equivalent).
• Extensive experience in imaging optics, illumination design, and opto-mechanical integration.
• Proven ability to lead complex optical development programs with minimal oversight.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to create high-quality technical reports and documentation.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with optical alignment, metrology equipment, and prototype testing.
• Experience guiding products through full development lifecycle into manufacturing preferred.
• Background in system-level engineering and multidisciplinary design preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership of technical teams or project initiatives preferred.
• Experience collaborating with customers, external vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders preferred.

About Optikos Corporation:

For more than 40 years, Optikos® has provided innovative applications of optical technology, both products and services, to commercial, government, and consumer products organizations worldwide. The Optikos engineering team is the largest independent…