Optics Engineer

BRELYON; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

BRELYON seeks a Senior Optics Engineer to lead optical system design, simulation, and optimization for immersive display products. The role is on-site in San Mateo, CA, with cross-functional collaboration across hardware, software, and product teams to translate requirements into optical specs and drive prototypes toward production.

The ideal candidate has postdoc/PhD in optics or related fields (or equivalent experience), strong lab skills, and proficiency with optical design tools.

Qualifications

• Postdoc/PhD in optics, applied physics, EE, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong optics exposure across XR, light-field, and display tech.
• Experience integrating optical, mechanical and electronic components.
• Proven ability to model, simulate, and validate optical systems.
• Excellent written and spoken communication; cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Make the optical system design from lab design to mass production.
• Familiar in Zemax/Code V/OSLO and similar tools.
• Partner with external vendors for manufacturing processes, metrology and quality control.
• Model electromagnetic phenomena of nanoscale structures using FFT, FEM, FDTD tools.
• Define system requirements and deliver hardware, software, and calibration to meet specs.
• Use 3D design software for designing and review of materials and geometries.
• Build and test product components and contribute to patents.
• Model, build, test, and refine prototypes and characterization systems.
• Stay ahead with state-of-the-art manufacturing and materials for future product lines.
• Apply rigorous engineering and tolerance techniques to high-precision design.
• Works in the lab and behind the computer.

Skills

Strong optical design & engineering

Applied physics expertise

Creative, problem-solving

Lab experimentation & data analysis

Communication skills

Mentorship ability

XR/display tech familiarity

Education

Postdoc/PhD in Optics/Applied Physics/EE

Tools

Zemax

Code V

LightTools

Lumerical

Job description

Company Description:

BRELYON programs light to amplify the human-computer experience, aiming to deliver immersive visual experiences without the need for headsets. The company focuses on advanced display technologies, including XR, lightfield, and 3D displays, as well as AI and computer graphics to bring new types of processing to screens. We are bringing together cutting-edge optics and system design to create next-generation visual interfaces. Prospective team members can expect to work at the intersection of hardware, software, and user experience in a fast-evolving technology domain.

(See CES announcement here: https://youtu.be/LK05QlJVK90?si=wnWpeDbERtAEeNVK)

Role Description:

The Senior Optics Engineer will lead the design, development, and optimization of optical systems for BRELYON’s immersive display products. Day-to-day responsibilities include modeling and simulating optical architectures, specifying and validating optical components, conducting lab experiments and measurements, and collaborating with cross-functional teams in hardware, software, and product design. This role will also involve translating product requirements into optical specifications, troubleshooting system-level issues, and guiding prototype-to-production transitions. The position is full-time on-site and based in San Mateo, CA.

Job Responsibility:

• Make the optical system design from lab design to mass production.
• Familiar in one or more optical design software (e.g. Zemax, CodeV, OSLO, etc).
• Partner with external vendors to develop complex manufacturing processes, including material selection, process and equipment, metrology, and quality control.
• Develop with electromagnetic modeling and analysis of nanoscale structures, anisotropic materials, films, or holographic elements, using algorithms such as FFT, FEM and FDTD Simulation tools.
• Define system requirements, then deliver hardware, software, and calibration that meet specifications. This may include hardware (optics, electronics, mechanics, silicon, sensor, data-communication), software (computer vision algorithms, calibration, modeling, analysis), and performance analysis.
• Uses 3D design software for designing and design review, is involved in choosing materials, geometries, and assessing the mechanics of proposed designs.
• Build and test product components through innovation methods and helps with patents.
• Model, build, test, and refine prototypes and characterization systems.
• Familiar with state-of-the‑art manufacturing and emerging materials to develop and support the future direction of the product line.
• Apply rigorous engineering and tolerance techniques to high‑precision design requirements.
• Works in the lab and behind the computer.

Qualifications

• Strong optical design and optical engineering skills for complex display and imaging systems. From XR optics design to imaging systems to light‑matter interactions and photonics, this position requires a Postdoc-level understanding of optics and photonics with a stellar track record of publications in experimental optics and photonics.
• Applied physics expertise, including geometrical and physical optics, to inform system modeling, surface metrology, and analysis.
• Exceptional geometry and advanced mathematical skills combined with a highly creative, first‑principles problem‑solving spirit.
• Experience with systems design and the integration of optical, mechanical, and electronic components into cohesive products.
• Hands‑on experience with laser‑based systems, alignment, safety, optical metrology, and characterization.
• Proficiency with optical design and simulation tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V, LightTools, Lumerical, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute optical experiments, manage and organize a lab, archive samples, collect data, and interpret results to drive design decisions.
• Extraordinary written and spoken communication skills, with a track record of collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• PostDoc/Ph.D. in Optics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with display technologies, XR systems, or lightfield/3D imaging is highly beneficial.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical roadmaps and best practices.

Nice to Have

• Expertise in 3D SW such as SolidWorks, Adobe Illustrator, or equivalent software with optical function. Structure design and tolerance analysis through mechanical software (e.g. Soildworks).
• Exposure to computational imaging and computational display techniques.
• Expert in one or more 3D design software (e.g. SolidWorks, KeyCreator, Rhino, CATIA, etc).
• Experience designing mechanical constraints of PCBs, FPCs, etc.
• Drive external supplier to achieve mass production.
• System integration experience is plus.
• Deep understand mechanical engineering principles.

• We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.