Optical Systems Engineer

AddOptics; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High ownership role

Shape optical design at AddOptics

Cross-functional collaboration

Competitive compensation

Job summary

AddOptics is seeking an Optical Systems Engineer to model lens stacks from first principles, run simulations, and deliver clear physics-based conclusions for complex optical problems.

You will build simulation frameworks, explore aberrations and tolerance sensitivity, and collaborate with live customer projects to ensure optical truth informs engineering decisions. A physics-focused degree and 5+ years of experience are required.

Qualifications

• Solid foundation in physics and wavefront phenomena
• 5+ years hands-on optical design and simulation experience
• Proficiency with industry tools (Zemax, CODE V) and scripting
• Experience designing optical systems with multiple elements and air gaps
• Familiarity with ophthalmic optics or quick domain learning capability
• Clear communication with non-optical engineers

Responsibilities

• Build and run optical simulations of complex lens stacks
• Investigate aberration, wavefront error, and tolerance sensitivity
• Develop simulation frameworks to interrogate optical performance
• Challenge and validate design assumptions with data
• Bridge ophthalmic domain knowledge into design decisions

Skills

Strong physics foundation

5+ years optical design

Zemax/COD V familiarity

Scripting: Python/MATLAB

Multi-element optics design

Ophthalmic optics knowledge

Education

Applied Physics / Photonics / Optical Engineering degree

Tools

Zemax (OpticStudio)

CODE V

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Physics, Simulation & Hard Problem Solving

Location: Rotterdam, NL Commitment: Full time Experience: 5+ years

The Mission

At AddOptics, we develop next-generation ophthalmic and vision solutions. We're a small, fast-moving tech team where every person owns their domain. We're looking for an Optical Systems Engineer who thrives on solving the hard problems — someone who can model a lens stack from first principles, run the simulations, and give the rest of the team a clear answer when the physics gets complicated.

What You’ll Be Working On

Building and running optical simulations of complex lens stacks — multiple surfaces, curvatures, air gaps, materials — and knowing what the output actually means

Digging into the hard physics questions that don't have an obvious answer: aberration behaviour, wavefront error, tolerance sensitivity, edge cases

Developing simulation frameworks and scripts that let the team interrogate optical performance quickly and reliably

Challenging and validating design assumptions — if the numbers don't add up, you find out why

Learning the ophthalmic domain (Rx language, dioptric power, prescription-to-optics translation) and becoming the person who bridges that gap internally

Working directly with engineers on live customer projects as the go-to source of optical truth

What We’re Looking For

A strong foundation in physics — you understand what's happening at the wavefront, not just what the software puts out

5+ years of hands-on experience in optical design and simulation

Proficiency in OpticStudio (Zemax), CODE V, or equivalent optical design tools

Comfort with scripting or coding to automate or extend simulations (Python, MATLAB)

Experience designing optical systems with multiple refractive elements, curvatures, and air gaps

Familiarity with ophthalmic optics or a genuine appetite to learn the domain fast

The ability to communicate clearly with non-optical engineers — you can explain what the simulation is telling you without losing the room

A degree in Applied Physics, Photonics, or Optical Engineering

The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here

You're comfortable being the only optical expert in the room. You don't wait for someone to tell you what to investigate — you follow the physics. You care about the end product, not just the elegance of the model. And when an engineer on a customer project needs an answer, you provide one they can act on.

What you’ll get

A high-ownership, high-impact role in a growing deep tech company

The chance to shape how optical design is done at AddOptics — from tooling to process

Close collaboration with a sharp, cross-functional team that respects domain expertise

We take the work seriously, and we take the time to celebrate what we achieve together

Competitive salary and benefits