Remote Senior Optical Design Engineer for AI Imaging

Socket.dev; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Optopax is seeking a Senior Optical Design Engineer to lead advanced optical system development—from simulation through validation to integration in our imaging platforms. You will drive photonics innovations and collaborate across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing teams.

The role supports remote work within the US with a preference for Bay Area candidates to work on-site in San Jose, CA. A contract engagement has potential to convert to full-time if located in California.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in optical design and engineering for multi-element systems.
• High proficiency with optical design and simulation tools (Zemax, Code V, etc.).
• Strong fundamentals in geometrical and physical optics design, fabrication, tolerancing, and metrology.
• Experience in design documentation and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, simulation, tolerancing, and optimization of complex optical systems.
• Perform stray-light, ray-trace, wavefront, photon budget, and DFM analyses.
• Translate customer specs into detailed design requirements for cross-functional teams.
• Guide validation of designs via lab testing, metrology, and performance measurement.
• Mentor junior optical engineers and establish design best practices.

Skills

Optical design experience

Collaboration

Design documentation

Education

Master’s/PhD in Optical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Zemax

Code V

LightTools

Lumerical

Quadoa

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Optopax is seeking a Senior Optical Design Engineer to lead advanced optical system development—from simulation through validation to integration in our imaging platforms. You will drive photonics innovations and collaborate across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing teams.

The role supports remote work within the US with a preference for Bay Area candidates to work on-site in San Jose, CA. A contract engagement has potential to convert to full-time if located in California.