Senior Optical Engineer - Concentrator Solar Optics

NextGenEnergyJobs; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Exowatt is pioneering a P3 system that captures solar energy, stores it as heat, and generates electricity on demand. We seek an experienced Optical Engineer to design and optimize Fresnel-based concentrators, develop optical error budgets, and validate performance with on-sun tests and ray-tracing models.

You will automate analyses using Python and collaborate across optics, mechanical, and thermal teams. Candidates should hold a Master's or PhD in Optical Engineering or related fields, with 3+

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of non-imaging optics and Fresnel concentrators.
• Experience with concentration ratios and acceptance angles.
• Hands-on optical lab experience including assembly, alignment, testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize Fresnel primaries and secondary elements to maximize flux transfer.
• Build an optical error budget and validate against hardware.
• Automate ray-tracing, testing, and analysis using Python (and MATLAB/C++ as needed).
• Conduct on-sun testing and reconcile results with simulations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams across optics, thermal, and systems.

Skills

Optical design

Non-imaging optics

Monte Carlo ray tracing

Troubleshooting & debugging

Communication

Python scripting

Education

Master's or PhD in Optical Engineering/Physics/EE

Tools

TracePro

LightTools

FRED

Photopia

SolTrace

Tonatiuh

Zemax/OpticStudio

Job description

Exowatt is pioneering a P3 system that captures solar energy, stores it as heat, and generates electricity on demand. We seek an experienced Optical Engineer to design and optimize Fresnel-based concentrators, develop optical error budgets, and validate performance with on-sun tests and ray-tracing models.

You will automate analyses using Python and collaborate across optics, mechanical, and thermal teams. Candidates should hold a Master's or PhD in Optical Engineering or related fields, with 3+