Lead Optical Engineer - Lighting

Join a team where engineering creativity meets advanced automotive lighting technology. As an Optical Engineer, you’ll design next‑generation headlamps and signal lighting systems that combine precision, style, manufacturability, and cutting‑edge performance. This is an opportunity to directly influence visual signature, safety, and innovation in future vehicle programs.

🔧 Key Responsibilities

Innovate and Create Advanced Optical Systems

• Develop and implement custom optical designs for automotive headlamps and signal lamps that balance style, performance, manufacturability, modularity, and cost efficiency.
• Contribute to the development of new intellectual property by creating novel and innovative optical concepts.

Drive Early Feasibility & Vehicle Program Support

• Lead early optical feasibility studies and packaging assessments for customer vehicle programs.
• Support customer quotations, technical documentation, and program deliverables across project milestones.

Collaborate Globally & Advance Best Practices

• Coordinate and collaborate with global optical engineering teams to deliver project tasks and share expertise.
• Engage with the global optics community to continuously elevate design standards, analysis methods, and simulation processes.

Optimize Designs Through Analysis & Simulation

• Perform design optimization using industry‑leading lighting CAE tools, simulation software, and empirical data.
• Ensure exceptional lit and unlit appearance, robust photometric performance, and regulatory compliance.

Support Testing, Certification & Program Execution

• Support component testing, photometric evaluations, and risk analysis for current and new‑model lamps.
• Partner with programs to meet ok‑to‑tool timelines, DV testing milestones, certification, and homologation requirements.

Prototype Builds, Benchmarking & Real‑World Validation

• Participate in prototype builds with a focus on lit appearance, fit & finish, and beam pattern refinement.
• Engage in benchmarking and night‑drive evaluations to ensure the highest levels of customer satisfaction.

Maintain, Improve, and Innovate in the Lab

• Help maintain and organize the optical laboratory, supplies, and equipment.
• Assist in calibration and correlation studies and develop new testing, troubleshooting, and analysis methods to boost efficiency.

🎓 Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline (preferred: Optics, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science).

💼 Experience Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience designing automotive lighting optical systems and components.
• Strong understanding of FMVSS‑108, ECE, and SAE photometric and regulatory requirements.
• Solid foundation in Geometrical Optics and automotive light sources (halogen, HID, LED).
• Knowledge of lighting manufacturing processes: toolmaking, injection molding, metallization, lamp assembly, photometric testing, and headlamp aiming.
• Experience with CAD software (Catia V5 preferred).
• Experience with optical simulation tools such as LightTools, LucidShape, or equivalent.
• Hands‑on familiarity with lab equipment, creating optical mockups, and validating photometric performance.
• Strong communication, teamwork, organizational skills, and the ability to convey complex ideas effectively.