Senior Optical Engineer — Prototyping & Precision Optics

Jaime Howley; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit-sharing bonus (~25%)

Comprehensive medical, dental, and VIS

401(k) with employer match

Generous PTO and holidays

Tuition assistance and continuous学习

Job summary

Precision Talent Partners, LLC is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer in the Rochester, NY area. The role focuses on advanced optical design, prototype development, and next-generation manufacturing for precision optics used in aerospace and defense applications.

The successful candidate will lead design studies, tolerancing analyses, and manufacturability assessments while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Optics, Physics, or related technical discipline (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred).
• 5–15 years’ experience in lens design (Zemax or Code V; Zemax preferred).
• Proven success in optical prototype design and build.
• Strong understanding of imaging and non-imaging optics, optical metrology, and quality metrics.
• Experience with interferometry, MTF testing, or related image quality assessments.

Responsibilities

• Assess customer specifications for feasibility and perform design studies and tolerancing analyses.
• Evaluate optical systems for manufacturability using existing equipment; recommend new tooling or test setups where required.
• Collaborate cross-functional to define requirements, develop test plans, and plan verification methods.
• Prepare and present design review materials to internal teams and customers.
• Support or lead testing of prototype lenses and optical assemblies.
• Participate in continuous improvement and knowledge-sharing across engineering disciplines.

Skills

Lens design experience

Imaging optics

Optical metrology

Interferometry

MTF testing

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Optics/Physics or related

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

Zemax

Code V

Job description

Precision Talent Partners, LLC is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer in the Rochester, NY area. The role focuses on advanced optical design, prototype development, and next-generation manufacturing for precision optics used in aerospace and defense applications.

The successful candidate will lead design studies, tolerancing analyses, and manufacturability assessments while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.