LWIR Optical Technical Lead

Aptiv; Kraków; Hybrid; PLN 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Well-being program

Hybrid work

Employer pension plan

Job summary

Aptiv is seeking an experienced engineer to develop, validate, and optimize LWIR thermal imaging systems using uncooled microbolometer FPAs. You will define performance metrics, integrate cores and optics, and contribute to calibration and image processing.

You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and algorithm teams to ensure robust test methods, reliable performance, and manufacturability under varying environmental conditions.

Qualifications

• Experience with LWIR thermal imaging systems and uncooled microbolometer camera architectures.
• Familiarity with thermal imaging fundamentals: emissivity, blackbody radiation, radiometry and contrast.
• Experience validating and characterizing thermal cameras: NETD, MRTD, SNR, DRI and image uniformity.

Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, and validate LWIR thermal imaging systems with uncooled FPAs.
• Define performance metrics and support optics, shutters, calibration components, and image processing algorithms.
• Create laboratory and environmental test methods, radiometric calibration, and thermal characterization.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and algorithm teams to optimize performance and manufacturability.

Skills

LWIR imaging

Python

Matlab

C++

Optics

Zemax

Imatest

Education

Master Degree in Physics, Optics or Photonics

Tools

SPEOS

Zemax

Imatest

Job description

Imagine a world with zero vehicle accidents, zero vehicle emissions, and wireless vehicle connectivity all around us. Every day, we move closer to making that world a reality. Aptiv’s passionate team of engineers and developers creates advanced safety systems, high-performance electrification solutions and data connectivity solutions so that automakers can bring advanced capabilities to more people around the globe. This is how we enable sustainable mobility and help to prevent accidents caused by human error.

Your Role

Develop, integrate, characterize, and validate LWIR thermal imaging systems utilizing uncooled microbolometer focal plane arrays (FPAs). Define and evaluate thermal camera performance metrics including NETD, MRTD, NUC performance, thermal sensitivity, dynamic range, temperature measurement accuracy, and detector uniformity. Support selection, integration, and characterization of thermal imaging cores, LWIR optics, shutters, calibration components, and image processing algorithms. Develop laboratory and environmental test methods for thermal imaging systems, including radiometric calibration, thermal characterization, and temperature stability verification. Analyze thermal image quality and system performance under varying environmental and operational conditions including temperature extremes, humidity, vibration, and solar loading. Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and algorithm teams to optimize thermal camera system performance and manufacturability.

Your Background Experience

With experience with LWIR thermal imaging systems and uncooled microbolometer-based camera architectures. Understanding of thermal imaging fundamentals including blackbody radiation, emissivity, transmission, radiometric measurements, and thermal contrast mechanisms. Experience evaluating thermal camera performance metrics such as NETD, MRTD, SNR, DRI (Detection, Recognition, Identification), thermal resolution, and image uniformity. Experience integrating and characterizing thermal sensors, optics, and complete thermal camera modules in laboratory environments. Familiarity with LWIR optical materials, coatings, and packaging considerations including germanium, chalcogenide glass, silicon, and athermalized optical designs. Experience defining and executing validation plans for thermal imaging systems. Experience with thermal camera calibration using blackbody sources and radiometric test equipment - nice to have Master Degree in Physics, Optics or Photonics or similar; Familiarity with optics, radiometry, photometry for LWIR cameras (+5years) Experience in design of optical components for LWIR cameras Experience with ray trace analysis software : (SPEOS, Zemax, Imatest); Experience with Python, Matlab, C++ is a plus Good verbal and written communication skills (English).

Why Join Aptiv

You grow at Aptiv. Aptiv's winning culture is global by design. We bring together diverse perspectives, cultures, and business contexts to solve our customers' toughest challenges. In this environment, every individual can grow, lead, and make an impact, regardless of background, because inclusion fuels how we innovate and win. You make an impact at Aptiv. One of the strengths of humanity is our drive to progress, to improve, to achieve more tomorrow than we did yesterday. People need solutions they can trust when it matters most. At Aptiv, you are building those solutions every day. You have support at Aptiv. We ensure you have the resources and support you need to take care of your family, your physical health, and your mental health with a competitive benefits package.

Your Benefits at Aptiv:

• Private health care (Signal Iduna) and Life insurance for you and your beloved ones
• Well-Being Program that includes regular webinars, workshops, and networking events
• Hybrid work (min. 47 days/yr of remote work, flexible working hours)
• Employee Pension Plan paid by the employer (you get + 3,5% on each gross salary. Access to sports groups and Multisport card

Meet the Next Generation Aptiv At Aptiv, we deliver innovative solutions that people trust when it matters most. Progress is never static. It is about reaching further, exploring new possibilities, and enabling mobility. Aptiv empowers customers to create solutions people rely on—advancing safety and autonomy in Automotive and Commercial Vehicles, enabling mission-critical performance in Aerospace & Defense, and powering intelligent systems across Energy, Enterprise, and Telecommunications. We also drive precision and efficiency in Industrials & Robotics and support life-critical innovation in Medical technologies. Guided by our winning culture and values to Think & Act Like Owners, as One Team, and Play to Win, we turn commitment into results and achieve more together.

Join Us to Deliver Innovative Solutions That People Trust!

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