Optical Engineer - Automotive

Function: Optical Design & Simulation

Industry: Tier 1, Automotive Exterior Lighting

Experience: 3-5 Years

Key Responsibilities

Design and develop optical systems for automotive exterior lighting products, including reflectors, lenses, light guides, thick-wall optics, and other illumination concepts.

Create and optimize optical prescriptions to meet photometric, styling, packaging, thermal, and manufacturing requirements.

Perform optical simulations, analyse results, identify performance gaps, and implement design improvements.

Collaborate with mechanical design teams to resolve packaging, tolerance, material, surface-quality, and assembly-related issues affecting optical performance.

Support feasibility studies, concept evaluations, technical proposals, and preliminary performance assessments for new business opportunities.

Coordinate prototype, laboratory, and vehicle-level evaluations of optical models and production-intent parts.

Conduct physical lamp measurements and analyze photometric performance using laboratory equipment.

Provide optical design requirements and technical guidance to program management, tooling, manufacturing, quality, and project teams.

Prepare optical reports, simulation results, design documentation, and customer presentation materials.

Participate in technical reviews and product-performance evaluations with customers and internal stakeholders.

Support troubleshooting of optical performance issues during development, tooling, industrialization, and production.

Maintain awareness of applicable automotive lighting regulations and homologation requirements, including ECE, SAE, FMVSS, and CCC.

Required Skills and Competencies

Strong understanding of geometric optics, photometry, illumination principles, and automotive lighting systems.

Experience in designing reflectors, lenses, light guides, thick-wall optics, or related optical systems.

Hands-on experience with optical simulation software such as LucidShape, Ansys Speos, or equivalent tools.

Working knowledge of 3D CAD tools such as CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or Solid Edge.

Understanding of injection-moulded optical components, optical materials, surface textures, tolerances, and manufacturing limitations.

Knowledge of automotive exterior lighting regulations, photometric requirements, and homologation processes.

Ability to interpret simulation results and correlate them with prototype or laboratory measurements.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in a time-sensitive automotive development environment.

Ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to changing customer and program priorities.

Good technical reporting, presentation, and customer communication skills.

Basic knowledge of scripting or automation languages for engineering analysis is an advantage.

Willingness to work flexible hours and travel to customer or manufacturing locations when required.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

3-5 years of relevant experience in automotive lighting optical design, simulation, testing, product development, or performance analysis.

Practical experience supporting optical products through concept development, design release, prototyping, validation, tooling, and industrialization is preferred.

Qualification:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.