Optical System Integration Engineer

Lyte AI Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Flexible vacation and time-off

Job summary

Lyte AI Inc. is seeking an Optical System Integration Engineer to join the System Optics Team in Sunnyvale. This hands-on role targets early-career engineers with strong optical fundamentals to build, test, and debug real optical systems.

You will align setups, validate subsystems, and develop Python scripts for instrument control and data analysis. Collaboration with electrical, firmware, software, and mechanical teams is essential for success in this dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Optical/Photonics Engineering or related field is required.
• Strong understanding of optical fundamentals including geometric optics, lenses, imaging, Gaussian beams, and diffraction.
• Hands-on laboratory experience or internships demonstrating hardware prototyping and debugging.
• Experience with free-space optical alignment, beam collimation, and optical power measurements.
• Proficiency in Python for scientific computing, data analysis, and lab automation.

Responsibilities

• Build, align, and characterize optical laboratory setups and subsystems.
• Test and validate optical components and subsystems (lenses, windows, mirrors, lasers, detectors).
• Perform optical alignment tasks and optimize optical paths.
• Execute optical characterization and system-level test procedures; analyze data.
• Develop Python scripts for instrument control, automation, and data processing.

Skills

Optical fundamentals

Python scripting

Data analysis

Laboratory testing

Education

BS/MS in Optical/Photonics Engineering or related

Electrical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Python

NumPy

SciPy

pandas

Matplotlib

Zemax OpticStudio

Code V

FPGA/SoC hardware

Job description

• We are seeking a motivated and hands-on Optical System Integration Engineer to join our System Optics Team. The team is responsible for integrating and validating optical subsystems and ensuring product performance from an optical standpoint. This is a hands-on engineering role intended for a recent graduate, or early-career engineer with strong fundamentals in optics and an interest in building, testing, and debugging real optical systems.

What you'll do

• Build, align, and characterize optical laboratory setups and optical subsystems.
• Support testing and validation of optical components and subsystems, including lenses, windows, mirrors, lasers, detectors, and related opto-mechanical assemblies.
• Perform optical alignment tasks including free-space alignment, beam collimation, focusing, and optimization of optical paths.
• Execute optical characterization and system-level test procedures and analyze the resulting data.
• Develop Python scripts for instrument control, test automation, data processing, visualization, and analysis.
• Assist with development and validation new sensor prototyping and manufacturing processes.
• Support optical subsystem bring-up, integration, validation, and troubleshooting.
• Investigate unexpected system behavior using experimental data and fundamental engineering principles.
• Perform measurements and characterization of optical performance, including beam profile, M², wavefront error (WFE), and other relevant optical metrics.
• Work with cross-functional engineering teams, including electrical, firmware, DSP, software, and mechanical engineering.
• Document experimental setups, procedures, results, and conclusions clearly.
• Participate in failure analysis and root-cause investigations with experienced engineers.
• Propose improvements to optical setups, test methods, automation, and measurement techniques.

Required Qualifications

• A B.S. or M.S. in Optical/Photonics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a related engineering field.
• Strong understanding of optical fundamentals, including geometric optics, lenses, imaging, Gaussian beams, diffraction, and basic physical optics.
• Demonstrated hands-on technical aptitude through laboratory coursework, research, internships, engineering projects, or previous employment.
• Comfortable working with physical hardware and performing iterative setup, measurement, alignment, and debugging.
• Experience with or strong interest in: Free-space optical alignment ; Lenses and opto-mechanical components ; Laser alignment and beam collimation ; Photodetectors and optical power measurements ; Optical and electrical laboratory instrumentation ; Optical systems in sensing applications
• Working knowledge of Python, particularly for scientific computing, data analysis, or laboratory automation.
• Ability to analyze experimental data, identify trends or anomalies, and develop hypotheses based on measurement results.
• Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to learn unfamiliar systems and measurement techniques.
• Ability to communicate technical observations and results clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Python libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, pandas, and Matplotlib.
• Automated test equipment and instrument communication/control.
• Passive or active integrated photonics testing.
• Basic analog/digital electronics and ability to interpret circuit schematics or system block diagrams.
• Optical simulation or design tools such as Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, or similar software.
• FPGA or SoC-based hardware platforms.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible vacation and time-off policy
• Collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive work environment
• Opportunity to work oncutting-edgetechnologies with a highly cross-functional team

About Lyte

Lyte buildsperceptionsystems for Physical AIoperatingin complex environments. The company combines custom silicon, integrated sensors, and software into a unified platform for robotics, mobility, and next-generation automation. Lyte is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with a global presence. For more information, visit www.lyte.ai

The pay range for this role is:

110,000 - 170,000 USD per year (Bay Area, CA)