Senior LiDAR Optical Engineer for Autonomous Vehicles

Tensor Auto; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Tensor is seeking senior optical engineers to join our LiDAR team in San Jose, CA. You will develop detailed optical models, run analyses, and contribute to autonomous sensing technology used in next‑gen vehicles.

The role requires 7+ years in optical engineering, hands‑on experience with non‑sequential design tools (FRED/ASAP), strong CAD/MATLAB/Python skills, and the ability to produce clear technical reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in an optical engineering role.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience with non‑sequential optical design software such as FRED or ASAP.
• Expertise in CAD tools for preparing and transferring optical system designs.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or comparable programming languages for simulation and automation.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience in writing clear and concise technical reports.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed models of optical systems, tracing light paths from generation to detection and optimizing performance.
• Perform stray light analyses at the system level and propose effective mitigation strategies.
• Manage material property libraries, including reflectivity and scatter models, such as Harvey-Shack, ABg, and BSDF.
• Automate simulation workflows through scripting to enhance analysis efficiency and scalability.
• Conduct coherent beam propagation and opto‑mechanical tolerance simulations to evaluate system impacts.
• Troubleshoot optical system irregularities using simulations and data analysis.
• Design, build, and test prototypes and measurement tools to support New Product Integration and Advanced Manufacturing Teams.
• Produce comprehensive technical reports to effectively communicate simulation results and recommendations.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering or Physics

Tools

FRED

ASAP

CAD tools

Job description

Tensor is seeking senior optical engineers to join our LiDAR team in San Jose, CA. You will develop detailed optical models, run analyses, and contribute to autonomous sensing technology used in next‑gen vehicles.

The role requires 7+ years in optical engineering, hands‑on experience with non‑sequential design tools (FRED/ASAP), strong CAD/MATLAB/Python skills, and the ability to produce clear technical reports.