Optical System Integration Engineer

Lyte; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Flexible vacation and time-off policy

Inclusive work environment

Cross-functional cutting-edge tech

Job summary

Lyte in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking an Optical System Integration Engineer to join the System Optics Team. This hands-on role targets recent graduates or early-career engineers with strong optics fundamentals who enjoy building, testing, and debugging real optical systems.

You will build and align optical setups, test components, perform beam alignment, run system tests, and develop Python scripts for automation and data analysis.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in optical/photonics engineering or related field.
• Strong optics fundamentals: geometric optics, lenses, imaging, Gaussian beams, diffraction.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with hardware, measurements, and setup.
• Comfortable with physical hardware and iterative alignment and debugging.

Responsibilities

• Build, align, and characterize optical lab setups and subsystems.
• Test and validate optical components and subsystems (lenses, windows, mirrors, lasers, detectors).
• Perform optical alignment (free-space, beam collimation) and optimize optical paths.
• Execute optical characterization and system-level tests and analyze data.
• Develop Python scripts for instrument control, test automation, and data processing.
• Assist with sensor prototyping and manufacturing process validation.
• Document setups, procedures, results, and conclusions clearly.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (electrical, firmware, software, mechanical).
• Participate in failure analysis and root-cause investigations.

Skills

Optical fundamentals

Hands-on aptitude

Python for data analysis

Data analysis & hypothesis

Communication of results

Problem solving

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Optical/Photonics or related field

Tools

Python scripting

Zemax OpticStudio

Code V

Job description

About the role

• 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 (subject to location and local regulations)

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