Optical Team Manager

Novarc Technologies Inc; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Novarc Technologies is seeking an Optical Team Manager in Burnaby to lead the engineering team that develops stereo vision and 3D sensing camera systems for welding automation. You will bridge technical leadership with people management, guiding a multidisciplinary group to deliver rugged, high‑performance visual sensing solutions for harsh welding environments.

You will oversee the full lifecycle from optical simulation and sensor selection to integration, calibration, and validation,

Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years in optical engineering, machine vision, or sensor-based imaging.
• Experience with stereo vision and 3D sensing hardware is preferred.
• Canada P.Eng. registration or eligibility is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver cutting-edge vision tech.
• Oversee architecture and lifecycle of stereo vision and 3D sensing systems.
• Coordinate optical simulations, illumination design, and sensor evaluation.
• Collaborate with AI/software teams to ensure data fidelity and real-time processing.
• Establish calibration, thermal/vibration tests, and validation protocols.
• Manage budgets, vendor relations, and project schedules.
• Promote engineering best practices and thorough design documentation.

Skills

Optical engineering

Machine vision

Embedded systems

Sensor imaging

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Optical Engineering

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

Code V

LightTools

FRED

SolidWorks

Altium

Jira/Confluence

NetSuite

SAP

PLM/PDM

Google Workspace

Job description

Salary Range: $130,000.00 To $160,000.00 Annually

Join us on the journey to help build the world using applied robotics and AI!

Novarc Technologies is a full-stack robotics company helping to build the world using applied robotics and AI. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas by the Financial Times for two consecutive years, we are at the epicentre of innovation and global expansion. Join our dynamic team as we extend our reach across four continents, blending pioneering welding technology with a profound global impact. It's a captivating time to be part of our journey – here, you'll do more than just work; you'll be an integral part of a movement shaping the tech-driven future.

Role Summary:

Summary: The Optical Team Manager will lead the engineering team responsible for developing Novarc’s next-generation welding camera platforms, including stereo vision, and 3D sensing camera systems. In this role, you will bridge technical leadership and team management, guiding a multidisciplinary team to create rugged, high-performance visual sensing technology solutions engineered for extreme welding environments. You will oversee the complete lifecycle - from early optical simulation and sensor selection to opto-electronic integration, thermal isolation, firmware and driver development and embedded platform optimization - working in close collaboration with the AI software team to power advanced autonomous welding automation.

Key Responsibilities :

Lead, mentor, and manage a multidisciplinary team to deliver leading vision technology

Drive the architecture, design, and product lifecycle of in-house stereo vision (multi-camera calibration, baseline geometry), and active/passive 3D sensing camera systems tailored for high-glare arc welding environments.

Oversee optical simulations, illumination design (laser/structured light, custom LED bands, narrow bandpass filtering), custom lens stack selection, and sensor payload evaluation.

Collaborate with AI and SW teams to ensure optical designs deliver optimal image fidelity, sync signals, and pre-filtered data feeds for downstream image processing and real-time feature extraction algorithms.

Define and execute rigorous calibration, characterization, thermal/vibration resistance testing, and opto-mechanical validation protocols for harsh industrial environments.

Manage optical laboratory equipment, prototyping budgets, vendor relations for custom optics/sensors, and technical project execution schedules.

Work with and champion standardized engineering practices, design reviews, optical assembly SOPs, safety/EMC regulatory alignment, and thorough design documentation across the team.

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Experience :

Education requirements: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics, Applied Optics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Specialization in electro-optics or 3D vision hardware systems is highly desirable.

Certifications: P.Eng. (Professional Engineer) registration or eligibility in Canada is an asset

Platform / Systems experience: Optical Simulation Software (Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, LightTools, or FRED), CAD tools (SolidWorks, Altium), ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite/SAP), PLM/PDM platforms, Jira/Confluence, Google Workspace.

Technical experience: Proficiency in optical system modeling, camera design (2D/3D/Stereo), image sensor evaluation (CMOS/HDR), spectral filtering, active illumination design, opto-electronic integration, and scripting/data analysis tools (OpenCV, Python, MATLAB, C/C++).

Number of years experience: 7+ years of hands‑on experience in optical engineering, machine vision hardware development, embedded system design or sensor-based imaging systems.

# of years of prior management experience (if applicable): 2+ years of experience leading, managing, or serving as a technical lead for engineering teams.

Travel requirements: Minimal travel (up to 10%) for supplier visits, customer deployments, or specialized field testing.

Commitment to Novarc Values:

Demonstrate and embed Novarc’s core values of Hungry, Humble, and Smart in daily work, decision-making, collaboration, and interactions with colleagues, customers, and partners.

Hungry: Be Passionate, Never Give Up, Customer Focused, Continuous Learning, Do What You Say

Humble: Servant Leader, No arrogance, Less Ego, Listen > Talk

Smart: High EQ, Challenge the Status Quo, Thought Leaders

Commitment to Values : Embed Novarc’s core values of Hungry, Humble, and Smart in every aspect of leadership and decision-making

Leadership Values : Embody Novarc’s leadership principles to inspire and guide the team towards success

Integrity & Trust: Lead with honesty, transparency, and ethical standards, building trust within the team.

Clear Communication & Colloboration: Communicate clearly, listen actively, and provide constructive feedback to foster collaboration.

Empowerment & Accountability: Delegate responsibility, set clear goals, and hold everyone accountable for results.

Coaching & Development: Prioritize team development, offering guidance and growth opportunities.

Inclusive Leadership: Champion diversity, ensuring all voices are heard and valued.

Innovative Problem Solving: Drive creative solutions to challenges, balancing immediate needs with long-term goals.

Results Oriented Leadership: Focus on achieving excellence, aligning team objectives with company goals.

Empathy & Support: Show empathy, support your team, and respond thoughtfully to their needs.

Adaptability & Resilience: Stay flexible and resilient through change, guiding the team with confidence.

About Novarc Technologies:

Novarc Technologies is a full-stack robotics company specializing in the design and manufacturing of cobots and AI-based machine vision solutions for autonomous welding. Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot (SWR) is the world’s first of its kind in pipe welding applications. As a proven pioneer in the field, Novarc’s team is dedicated to solving challenging welding automation problems that improve customers’ bottom line.

Why Novarc:

Growing Opportunities - We are in the process of maturing into a fast-growing medium-sized business.

Great place to be - We have created a fun, adventurous, and open-minded environment where our teams are encouraged to bond and express their unique selves.

Best People - Our team is made up of talented, intelligent, and hardworking people.

Lots of Opportunities - We are constantly looking for stand‑out talent internally to move into leadership positions.

We are excited to invite you to join our growing team for this amazing journey!

\"Novarc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, national or ethnic origin, color, political belief, marital or family status, religion, special abilities, age, sex or sexual orientation, or a criminal conviction or charge that is unrelated to employment of to the intended employment of that person. This applies to all our practices of recruitment, selection, promotion, training and development, health and safety, and compensation.\"