Optical Validation Engineer — Display Optics & Simulation Lead

Apple Inc.; Arkansas; On-site; USD 184,700 - 324,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock programs

Relocation assistance

Bonuses/commission possible

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking an optical engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area to translate next-generation display technologies into validated real-world performance. You will own end-to-end optical models, design experiments, and drive failure analysis to inform design decisions.

The role balances simulation pipeline development with hands-on responsibilities, establishing new validation methods and leading cross-functional projects for scalable production.

Qualifications

• BS in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field with 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Proven track record correlating optical simulations with measured hardware performance.
• Proficiency with one or more optical simulation tools (LightTools, FDTD, RCWA, Zemax, Code V).
• Hands-on experience in optical design/metrology, display technologies, optical sensors, thin-film processes, or nanofabrication.
• Working knowledge of optical measurement systems including light sources, microscopes, spectrometers, detectors, and free-space optics.
• Statistical data analysis capabilities using tools such as JMP, Matlab, Python, etc

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design validation for next-generation optical display components.
• Own the development and validation of optical simulation capabilities and closing the simulation-measurement feedback loop using real build data.
• Define characterization pipelines, build plans, and data architecture to establish a rigorous design-to-performance validation, ensuring results are translated cross-functionally into insights.
• Define critical performance metrics and develop specifications to guarantee component performance in high-volume manufacturing builds.
• Drive failure mode analysis and root-cause diagnosis across optical components to support build critical issues and translate learnings into improved predictive simulation.
• Analyze results, produce comprehensive reports, and communicate findings to cross-functional teams in product design, manufacturing, and integration.

Skills

Optical design

Metrology

Display technologies

Optical sensors

Nanofabrication

Education

BS in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related

Masters or PhD in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Eng, Electrical Eng, Physics, or related

Tools

LightTools

FDTD

RCWA

Zemax

Code V

Job description

Apple Inc. is seeking an optical engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area to translate next-generation display technologies into validated real-world performance. You will own end-to-end optical models, design experiments, and drive failure analysis to inform design decisions.

The role balances simulation pipeline development with hands-on responsibilities, establishing new validation methods and leading cross-functional projects for scalable production.