Illumination Engineer Lead

Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company that designs and manufactures products and services across lighting, building management, and audio/video platforms. The company operates globally from its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, with 13,000 associates worldwide.

Work Location

This position requires on‑site presence in Wheat Ridge, CO, following a hybrid work model.

The Illumination Engineer is a core contributor to the Nexus team, Acuity Brands’ lighting innovation group. The role focuses on early‑stage illumination concepts, optical system design, and photometric analysis to translate customer problems and emerging trends into differentiated lighting solutions. Operating at the front end of the product lifecycle, the engineer emphasizes optical exploration, performance discovery, and concept validation, collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical, industrial design, and product teams to shape concepts that can progress toward commercialization.

• Entry Level – Contributes to optical design, simulation, and analysis under guidance; develops foundational skills and supports concept development.
• Senior Level – Independently drives optical concepts and analysis; owns key portions of projects and influences design direction.
• Lead Level – Sets optical strategy, leads complex concept development, and influences long‑term innovation direction across programs.

Invent Early‑Stage Illumination Concepts

• Collaboratively generate ideas for new products and develop those ideas into product concepts.
• Translate customer needs, application requirements, and business objectives into illumination concepts and system‑level performance targets.
• Perform competitive analysis and market research to set project objectives and performance criteria.

Optical Design & Simulation

• Develop optical designs using ray‑trace and simulation tools to evaluate and refine light distribution, efficiency, glare, uniformity, and visual comfort.
• Design optical architectures, including lenses, reflectors, diffusers, and mixed systems.

Photometric Calculation & Analysis

• Perform photometric calculations to quantify and set luminaire performance targets and application outcomes.
• Interpret key metrics such as intensity, illuminance, luminance, uniformity, efficacy, and glare.

Prototype, Test, and Validate Concepts

• Develop, build, and evaluate proof‑of‑concept prototypes and mockups using lab measurements and group visual review of subjective criteria.
• Correlate simulation results with measured performance.

Conduct Experiments & Design of Experiments (DoE)

• Plan and execute experiments to explore materials, architectures, and system behaviors.
• Use data to guide concept evolution and optimization.

Lead or Contribute to Innovation Activities

• Participate in ideation sessions and innovation events.
• Generate novel approaches to light delivery, visual experience, and system integration.

Research Technologies & Industry Trends

• Monitor emerging optical technologies, research, standards, and competitors.
• Identify opportunities for new illumination approaches.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work with mechanical, electrical, controls, industrial design, manufacturing, sourcing, and product teams.
• Balance performance, cost, manufacturability, and user experience.

Communicate Concepts and Tradeoffs

• Develop clear presentations of optical concepts, simulations, test results, and tradeoffs.
• Communicate effectively with technical and non‑technical stakeholders how design decisions impact user experience and the lighting application.

Support Intellectual Property Development

• Document innovations and support patent development efforts.

Support Broader Product Development Efforts

• Provide optical expertise across projects, including reviews, benchmarking, application and product performance analysis.

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Illumination Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

Experience (by Level)

• Entry Level – 0–3 years in illumination engineering, optics, or related fields.
• Senior Level –…