Lidar Optical Components Engineer - Vendor & Specs Lead

Rippling, Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical coverage

Flexible vacation

Cross-functional environment

Cutting-edge technology

Job summary

Lyte is scaling 4D FMCW lidar and seeks an optical component engineer to own lenses, prisms, window coatings, and waveplates from specification to qualification. You will drive convergence of tolerances and test methods, correlate component specs to system performance, and manage supplier delivery through EVT to volume ramp.

Role requires hands-on optical simulation in Zemax OpticStudio or Code V, metrology expertise, and travel to Asia.

Qualifications

• MS/PhD in Optical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 5+ years in optical component engineering or production-related design with precision optics.
• Experience managing optical vendors from RFQ to qualification and volume delivery.
• Hands-on optical simulation and metrology knowledge (Zemax/Code V, interferometers, spectrophotometers).
• Willingness to travel to Asia and other vendor sites (up to ~25%).

Responsibilities

• Own the optical component supply base and manage vendors for lenses, prisms, windows, waveplates, and coatings.
• Drive component spec convergence across optical design, mechanical, and vendor.
• Correlate component specs to system-level lidar performance and margins.
• Drive vendor delivery plans across prototype through volume ramp.
• Define vendor testing plans and ensure Cp/Cpk-capable data.
• Test in Lyte labs and at vendor sites to validate measurements.
• Own reliability qualification for optical components and post-test analysis.
• Build optical simulation capabilities to model component-tolerances and margins.
• Collaborate across optical design, systems, mechanical, NPI, quality, and procurement.

Skills

Optical design

Vendor management

Data analysis

Travel readiness

Education

MS/PhD in Optical Engineering or related field

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

Code V

MATLAB

Job description

Lyte is scaling 4D FMCW lidar and seeks an optical component engineer to own lenses, prisms, window coatings, and waveplates from specification to qualification. You will drive convergence of tolerances and test methods, correlate component specs to system performance, and manage supplier delivery through EVT to volume ramp.

Role requires hands-on optical simulation in Zemax OpticStudio or Code V, metrology expertise, and travel to Asia.