Optics Engineer

Katalyst CRO; Silao (Ciudad); On-site; MXN 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Katalyst CRO is seeking an Optical Engineer to design, optimize, and validate optical systems for automotive exterior lighting, ensuring photometric performance and compliance with styling, packaging, thermal, and manufacturing constraints.

You will work on reflectors, lenses, light guides, and thick-wall optics; perform simulations, analyze results, and collaborate with mechanical and product teams to meet project goals and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Experience designing optical systems for automotive exterior lighting.
• Experience with reflectors, lenses, light guides, and thick-wall optics.
• Ability to interpret simulations and correlate with measurements.
• Familiarity with ECE/SAE/CCC regulatory concepts is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop optical systems for automotive exterior lighting.
• Create and optimize optical prescriptions to meet requirements.
• Perform optical simulations, analyze results, and improve designs.
• Collaborate with mechanical teams on packaging and tolerance issues.
• Prepare reports and present findings to customers and teams.
• Maintain awareness of automotive lighting regulations and homologation.

Skills

Geometric optics

Photometry

Optical design

Optical simulation

3D CAD

Regulatory knowledge

Analytical skills

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics or related

Tools

Lucid Shape

Ansys Speos

CATIA

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking an Optical Engineer with experience in automotive exterior lighting, optical design, and simulation. The candidate will design, optimize, and validate optical systems for automotive lighting products while ensuring photometric performance, styling, packaging, thermal, and manufacturing requirements are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop optical systems for automotive exterior lighting, 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, analyze results, identify performance gaps, and implement design improvements.
• Collaborate with mechanical design teams to resolve packaging, tolerance, material, surface-quality, and assembly 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 presentations.
• Participate in technical reviews and product-performance evaluations with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Troubleshoot 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

• Strong understanding of geometric optics, photometry, illumination principles, and automotive lighting systems.
• Experience designing reflectors, lenses, light guides, thick-wall optics, or related optical systems.
• Hands-on experience with optical simulation software such as Lucid Shape, Ansys Speos, or equivalent tools.
• Working knowledge of 3D CAD tools such as CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or Solid Edge.
• Understanding of injection-molded 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, problem-solving, and technical reporting skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to changing customer and program priorities.
• Good presentation and customer communication skills.

Preferred Skills

• Basic knowledge of scripting or automation languages for engineering analysis.
• Practical experience supporting optical products through concept development, design release, prototyping, validation, tooling, and industrialization.
• Willingness to work flexible hours and travel to customer or manufacturing locations when required.

Educational Qualification

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

Key Skills

• Automotive Exterior Lighting.
• Optical Design.
• Lucid Shape.
• Ansys Speos.
• Optics.
• Photometry.
• Light Guides.
• Reflectors.
• Lenses.
• Optical Simulation.
• CATIA.
• Siemens NX
• SolidWorks.
• Photometric Testing.
• ECE.
• SAE.
• CCC.