Optical Engineer

Magna International; Southfield (MI); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Magna International seeks an Optics Engineer to lead the design, development, and testing of automotive camera optics, including lenses, imagers, and complete camera systems. You will define requirements, optimize optical performance, and support cross-functional teams through the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities include advanced optical testing, validation, and collaboration with manufacturing and suppliers to ensure robust performance and launch readiness in a global engineering environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in optical engineering, applied physics, electrical engineering, imaging science, or related field; PhD preferred.
• Four to eight years of relevant optical design and camera development experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead optical design and development for automotive camera products, defining requirements and performing design reviews.
• Develop system-level specifications for lenses, imagers, and complete camera systems.
• Perform optical tolerancing, sensitivity analyses, and trade-off assessments balancing cost and manufacturability.
• Provide technical ownership and support cross-functional teams through milestones and launch readiness.

Skills

Optical design

CMOS sensors

Image-quality analysis

Test automation

Problem solving

Education

Master's degree (optical/related)

PhD preferred

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

CODE V

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Job description

Job Responsibilities:

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have current and ongoing authorization to work in the United States.

Job Summary

The Optics Engineer is responsible for the design, development, characterization, validation, and technical support of automotive camera products. Responsibilities include development of lens, imager, camera-system, and optical test specifications; optical performance optimization; advanced laboratory characterization; manufacturing and calibration support; and resolution of complex optical performance issues throughout the product-development lifecycle. The role may be assigned primarily to Optical Development, Optical Test and Characterization, or a combination of both, based on program and organizational needs. The engineer works independently on intermediate-to-advanced assignments and serves as a technical resource within cross-functional and global teams.

Job Functions (ESSENTIAL)

LEVEL 2 Optical Development and Program Execution Lead optical design and development activities for automotive camera products, including requirements definition, component evaluation, implementation, test, debug, and design release. Develop optical architectures and system-level specifications for lenses, CMOS imagers, illumination paths, filters, and complete camera systems. Evaluate CMOS image sensors and optimize camera performance through imager configuration, register tuning, and quantitative image-quality assessment. Develop or specify multi-element lenses optimized for automotive near-field and far-field applications. Perform optical tolerancing, sensitivity analysis, and design-tradeoff assessments that balance performance, robustness, manufacturability, and cost. Provide technical ownership of optical performance requirements and support program milestones, design reviews, customer deliverables, and launch readiness. Identify optical technical risks and define practical mitigation plans to protect program timing, quality, and customer commitments.

Advanced Optical Testing and Characterization

Develop, implement, validate, and continuously improve optical test methods for lenses, image sensors, and complete automotive camera systems. Perform advanced optical characterization, including MTF and spatial resolution, distortion, relative illumination, color and spectral response, noise and dynamic range, flare, stray light, ghosting, veiling glare, and overall image quality. Develop test specifications, procedures, acceptance criteria, correlation methods, measurement-system analyses, and reporting templates for camera development programs. Design and automate optical test processes to improve throughput, repeatability, data quality, and utilization of laboratory equipment. Analyze complex optical performance issues, use quantitative data to determine root cause, and recommend corrective actions to development, manufacturing supplier, and customer teams. Plan and execute validation activities throughout the development lifecycle while enabling parallel support of multiple programs without compromising technical rigor. Evaluate emerging optical measurement technologies and characterization methods that improve next-generation camera development and validation.

Cross-Functional Integration and Manufacturing Support

Interface with mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, systems, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to ensure seamless integration of the optical system into the ECU and camera module. Assess the effects of mechanical packaging, assembly tolerances, thermal behavior, contamination, calibration, electronics, and software processing on optical performance. Support manufacturing process development, assembly, end-of-line testing, calibration, yield improvement, and correlation between development and production measurement systems. Support customer escalations, field investigations, design-validation issues, and structured corrective-action activities using disciplined problem-solving methods.

Technical Leadership and Capability Building

Serve as a technical resource and subject-matter expert for camera optics, optical characterization, image-quality analysis, and test methodology. Mentor engineers and technicians in optical measurement techniques, data interpretation, laboratory practices, and structured problem solving. Drive continuous-improvement initiatives that increase optical test efficiency, technical depth, repeatability, and organizational capability. Provide clear, data-based technical recommendations to internal leadership, cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customers. Contribute to optical technology roadmaps, lessons learned, standard methods, reusable tools, and knowledge transfer across global engineering teams. Perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives, safety requirements, and the Quality Operating System.

Job Requirements

Education and Experience

Level 2 Master's degree in optical engineering, applied physics, electrical engineering, imaging science, or a related field. Ph.D. preferred. Four to eight years of relevant experience in optical design, camera development, optical testing, image-quality engineering, or related serial-product development. Automotive electronics or automotive camera development experience strongly preferred. Comparable experience in high-volume consumer, industrial, medical, or professional imaging products may be considered when directly relevant. Demonstrated experience independently executing complex optical engineering assignments and delivering practical, data-based results.

Technical Competencies

Experience specifying, designing, or evaluating visible-spectrum lenses and imaging systems; automotive camera lens experience preferred. Strong knowledge of CMOS image-sensor characteristics, camera tuning, image-signal behavior, and their effects on system performance. Demonstrated competence in optical performance characterization and image-quality metrics, including MTF, distortion, relative illumination, flare, stray light, ghosting, color, noise, dynamic range, and related measures. Experience developing optical test strategies, laboratory setups, automated measurements, analysis methods, and test specifications for complex camera systems. Understanding of optical tolerancing, sensitivity analysis, measurement uncertainty, repeatability, reproducibility, and performance variation across environmental and manufacturing conditions. Cross-disciplinary understanding of optical-mechanical design, packaging, electrical design, software, image processing, thermal effects, manufacturing, assembly, and calibration. Experience with high-volume, cost-sensitive camera design and manufacturing, including design-for-manufacture and production-test considerations. Familiarity with automotive OEM camera requirements, customer-specific requirements, and environmental and durability expectations for automotive electronic modules. Demonstrated ability to independently diagnose complex optical problems, identify root cause, and lead corrective actions using structured methods such as 8D. Demonstrated innovation through patents, publications, test-method development, technical standards, reusable tools, or products brought to market. Ability to bring structure to ambiguous technical problems, establish direction, prioritize work, and guide teams toward sound engineering decisions.

Software, Laboratory, and Data Skills

Optical design and analysis tools such as Zemax OpticStudio and/or CODE V. Camera and image-quality analysis tools, optical laboratory instruments, and optical-mechanical alignment setups. Data analysis and test automation using appropriate engineering tools; experience with Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or equivalent platforms is preferred. Microsoft Office, with strong proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint for technical analysis and communication. Working knowledge of requirements management, configuration management, and project monitoring tools; PTC Codebeamer or equivalent experience preferred.

Communication and Working Style

Expert written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex optical topics clearly to technical and non-technical audiences. Ability to represent optical design and test topics internally, with suppliers, and with customers. Self-motivated, tenacious, and able to work independently with limited supervision while collaborating effectively in a global, cross-functional environment. Comprehensive knowledge of English. Knowledge of the local working language is an asset where applicable. Domestic and international travel may be required.

POLICIES, QUALITY, AND SAFETY

Comply with the Magna Charter and Constitution, Code of Conduct and Ethics, Quality Policy and Objectives, Environmental Policy, and applicable company policies and processes. Review and comply with applicable Customer Specific Requirements. Follow safe work procedures, use required personal protective equipment, and promptly report workplace hazards, injuries, and illnesses. Maintain regular attendance and complete applicable new-hire, new-position, quality, environmental, and health-and-safety training.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Normal amount of sitting and standing, average mobility to move around an office, laboratory, and plant environment, and the ability to perform a normal amount of computer and laboratory work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions. Awareness, Unity, Empowerment: At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That’s why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity.

Worker Type: Regular / Permanent Group: Magna Electronics

We see a future where everyone can live and move without limitations. That’s why we are developing technologies, systems and concepts that make vehicles safer and cleaner, while serving our communities, the planet and, above all, people. In the right environment, your ideas can turn into industry-changing automotive technologies and improve the lives of people around the world. Let's create the future of mobility, together. Learn more about us: Sustainability Innovation Interview-Tips