Lighting Product Development Engineer

rayon lighting; Compton (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rayon Lighting in Compton, CA is seeking a hands-on Lighting Product Development Engineer to lead the technical development of new commercial and architectural LED fixtures from concept through production.

You will collaborate across mechanical, optical, and electrical disciplines, build prototypes, perform thermal and photometric testing, and coordinate with domestic and overseas vendors to deliver manufacturable, certifiable products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Optical Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience developing LED lighting fixtures or related products.
• Strong understanding of LED thermal management and heat transfer.
• Familiarity with lighting optics and photometric performance.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes including sheet metal, extrusion, die casting, machining, plastics, and molding.
• Understanding of UL/ETL requirements and lighting testing standards.
• Ability to manage multiple product-development projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop new LED lighting fixtures from concept through production.
• Develop and evaluate mechanical, optical, and thermal designs.
• Perform thermal testing and analysis to ensure proper LED and driver temperatures.
• Develop and evaluate optical systems including reflectors, lenses, and beam distributions.
• Select and evaluate LEDs, drivers, optics, materials, and components.
• Build and evaluate prototypes and modify designs based on test results.
• Perform photometric and performance testing during product development.
• Create 3D CAD models, drawings, and production documentation.
• Coordinate testing and certification requirements (UL/ETL, LM-79, IP ratings).
• Work with vendors and teams throughout the product development process.

Skills

LED thermal management

Optics knowledge

Photometric performance

CAD proficiency

Prototype testing

Project ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Electrical or Optical Engineering background

Tools

SolidWorks

3D CAD software

Photopia

LightTools

TracePro

AGi32

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

About the Position

Rayon Lighting is seeking an experienced Lighting Product Development Engineer to join our

team and lead the technical development of new commercial and architectural LED lighting

fixtures.

This is a hands-on product development position for an engineer who understands how to take a

lighting fixture from concept through design, prototyping, testing, certification, and

production.

The ideal candidate has direct experience with LED luminaires and understands the interaction

between mechanical design, optics, LEDs, drivers, thermal management, photometric

performance, and manufacturability.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop new LED lighting fixtures from concept through production.
• Develop and evaluate mechanical, optical, and thermal designs.
• Perform thermal testing and analysis to ensure proper LED and driver operating temperatures.
• Develop and evaluate optical systems, including reflectors, lenses, TIR optics, beam distributions, and light output.
• Select and evaluate LEDs, drivers, optics, materials, and other fixture components.
• Build and evaluate prototypes and make design modifications based on test results.
• Perform photometric and performance testing during product development.
• Create 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and production documentation.
• Design components utilizing aluminum extrusions, die-cast aluminum, sheet metal, plastics, reflectors, lenses, and other materials commonly used in lighting fixtures.
• Work with domestic and overseas vendors to develop components, tooling, samples, and production-ready designs.
• Design products for manufacturability, assembly efficiency, reliability, and cost.
• Develop BOMs and technical documentation for production release.
• Coordinate product testing and certification requirements, including UL/ETL, LM-79, IP ratings, and applicable lighting standards.
• Troubleshoot product performance and manufacturing issues.
• Improve and value-engineer existing product lines.
• Work closely with management, purchasing, production, marketing, and outside suppliers throughout the product development process.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience developing LED lighting fixtures or closely related electrical/mechanical products.
• Strong understanding of LED thermal management and heat transfer.
• Understanding of lighting optics and photometric performance.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD software.
• Experience developing prototypes and conducting engineering tests.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes including sheet metal fabrication, aluminum extrusion, die casting, machining, plastics, and injection molding.
• Familiarity with LEDs, drivers, dimming systems, and lighting controls.
• Understanding of UL/ETL requirements and lighting-industry testing standards.
• Ability to take ownership of multiple product-development projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working for a commercial or architectural lighting manufacturer.
• Experience with Photopia, LightTools, TracePro, AGi32, or similar optical/photometric software.
• Experience working directly with LED, driver, optic, and component manufacturers.
• Experience coordinating product development with overseas manufacturers.
• Knowledge of recessed downlights, cylinders, linear lighting, or commercial LED luminaires.
• Experience taking a product from initial concept through certification and full production.

What We are Looking For

We are looking for a hands-on engineer and product developer, not simply someone who

creates drawings. The right candidate should be comfortable designing a fixture, building and

testing prototypes, analyzing thermal and optical performance, solving problems, working with

suppliers, and ultimately turning a concept into a reliable, manufacturable lighting product.