ZipRecruiter
Senior Engineer / Manager of Optical Design
ZipRecruiter, San Jose, California, United States, 95199
Overview
Optopax is a Silicon Valleybased design and OEM manufacturing company delivering integrated AI imaging solutionsfrom concept through prototyping to production. We specialize in AI?enabled camera modules, high?precision optics across UV to LWIR, and custom embedded systems powering robotics, industrial vision, submersible imaging, biomedical devices, AR/VR optics, medical and optical computing. Join our small, global team headquartered in San Jose, CA on a mission to engineer and manufacture camera solutions that transform how machines see, through custom optics, sensor integration, and embedded imaging platforms. About the Role
As a Senior or Manager?level Optical Design Engineer (depending on experience), youll lead the development of advanced optical systemstaking ideas from simulation through validation and integration into Optopaxs end?to?end imaging platforms. Youll drive innovation and help strengthen our capabilities in photonics, AI cameras, and embedded vision. We are open to remote candidates within the US with a preference for Bay Area candidates to work on-site alongside the Executive Management team in San Jose, CA. What Youll Do Lead design, simulation, tolerancing, and optimization of complex optical systems using tools such as Ansys Optics Studio (Zemax), Code V, LightTools, Lumerical, Quadoa, or equivalent. Perform stray?light, ray?trace, wavefront, photon budget, and design for manufacturability (DFM) analyses (e.g., Monte?Carlo tolerancing). Translate customer specifications into detailed design requirements; collaborate across mechanical, electrical, firmware/software, and manufacturing teams for system integration and prototyping. Guide validation of designs via lab testing, metrology, and performance measurement (e.g., MTF, distortion, SNR, wavefront). Mentor and support junior optical engineers and cross?functional partners, establishing design best practices and documentation. Drive innovation through research into new optical technologies, materials, coatings, and manufacturing techniques, informing future product strategies. Drive critical technical communications / negotiations with customers to ensure optical solutions align with performance, cost, and manufacturability goals.
What Youll Bring
Required Masters or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Minimum 5+ years experience in optical design and engineeringideally handling advanced, multi?element systems. High proficiency with optical design and simulation tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V and others). Strong fundamentals in geometrical and physical optics design methodology, optical fabrication techniques, DFM, tolerancing, and metrology. Experience in design documentation and cross-functional collaboration. Background in imaging systems for robotics, embedded cameras, LWIR, biomedical, AR/VR, sensors, or AI vision modules (reflecting Optopaxs core markets). Exposure to prototyping processes including wafer?level optics, active alignment, cleanroom assembly, or rapid prototyping workflows. Familiarity with optical test stations or imaging qualification methods (a pillar of Optopaxs product offerings). Experience in team leadership or mentoring, and process improvement with a proven track record of success. Programming or scripting skill (MATLAB, Python) for automation of analyses or data processing.
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Optopax is a Silicon Valleybased design and OEM manufacturing company delivering integrated AI imaging solutionsfrom concept through prototyping to production. We specialize in AI?enabled camera modules, high?precision optics across UV to LWIR, and custom embedded systems powering robotics, industrial vision, submersible imaging, biomedical devices, AR/VR optics, medical and optical computing. Join our small, global team headquartered in San Jose, CA on a mission to engineer and manufacture camera solutions that transform how machines see, through custom optics, sensor integration, and embedded imaging platforms. About the Role
As a Senior or Manager?level Optical Design Engineer (depending on experience), youll lead the development of advanced optical systemstaking ideas from simulation through validation and integration into Optopaxs end?to?end imaging platforms. Youll drive innovation and help strengthen our capabilities in photonics, AI cameras, and embedded vision. We are open to remote candidates within the US with a preference for Bay Area candidates to work on-site alongside the Executive Management team in San Jose, CA. What Youll Do Lead design, simulation, tolerancing, and optimization of complex optical systems using tools such as Ansys Optics Studio (Zemax), Code V, LightTools, Lumerical, Quadoa, or equivalent. Perform stray?light, ray?trace, wavefront, photon budget, and design for manufacturability (DFM) analyses (e.g., Monte?Carlo tolerancing). Translate customer specifications into detailed design requirements; collaborate across mechanical, electrical, firmware/software, and manufacturing teams for system integration and prototyping. Guide validation of designs via lab testing, metrology, and performance measurement (e.g., MTF, distortion, SNR, wavefront). Mentor and support junior optical engineers and cross?functional partners, establishing design best practices and documentation. Drive innovation through research into new optical technologies, materials, coatings, and manufacturing techniques, informing future product strategies. Drive critical technical communications / negotiations with customers to ensure optical solutions align with performance, cost, and manufacturability goals.
What Youll Bring
Required Masters or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Minimum 5+ years experience in optical design and engineeringideally handling advanced, multi?element systems. High proficiency with optical design and simulation tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V and others). Strong fundamentals in geometrical and physical optics design methodology, optical fabrication techniques, DFM, tolerancing, and metrology. Experience in design documentation and cross-functional collaboration. Background in imaging systems for robotics, embedded cameras, LWIR, biomedical, AR/VR, sensors, or AI vision modules (reflecting Optopaxs core markets). Exposure to prototyping processes including wafer?level optics, active alignment, cleanroom assembly, or rapid prototyping workflows. Familiarity with optical test stations or imaging qualification methods (a pillar of Optopaxs product offerings). Experience in team leadership or mentoring, and process improvement with a proven track record of success. Programming or scripting skill (MATLAB, Python) for automation of analyses or data processing.
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