Sr Mechanical Engineer - Illumination Optics

Garmin; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Garmin International is seeking a Sr Mechanical Engineer - Illumination Optics for the Explorations Team, at our Cary, NC site or the Kansas City area HQ. You will design and optimize non-imaging optical systems for consumer electronics, perform optical simulations, and translate optical concepts into manufacturable mechanical designs.

You will collaborate with ID, ME, EE, and illumination engineers, develop optical and photometric requirements, lead technology explorations, and mentor junior

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 5+ years' relevant experience.
• Master CAD‑user capable of completing highly complex tasks.
• Proficiency with CAD software for mechanical design and tolerancing.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop custom non-imaging optical systems for consumer electronics.
• Conduct optical simulation and analysis for concept development and design changes.
• Collaborate with ID, ME, EE, Optical and Illumination engineers throughout development.
• Develop optical and photometric requirements to meet product goals.
• Lead explorations of new technologies and estimate tooling/cost/time.

Skills

Master CAD‑user

SolidWorks

Onshape

GD&T

Thermal management

Optics software

Ray tracing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Advanced degree in Engineering/Optics/Physics

Tools

SolidWorks

Onshape

LucidShape

LightTools

Zemax

Speos

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a full‑time experienced Sr Mechanical Engineer - Illumination Optics on our Explorations Team at our Headquarters location in the Kansas City area, or at our site in Cary, NC. While other engineering product development teams at Garmin primarily focus on designing products, our team focuses on the product enabling technologies that will be essential to those products and will expedite their development. In this role, you will explore various lighting applications involving signal, conspicuity, and forward illumination systems across many of Garmin’s business segments.

Essential Functions

• Design and develop custom non‑imaging optical systems for various consumer electronics applications
• Conduct optical simulation and analysis for concept development and design change verification
• Transform optical surfaces into mechanical component models that are manufacturable
• Collaborate with ID, ME, EE, Optical and Illumination engineers throughout development
• Define boundary constraints for the optics due to ID goals, electromechanical integration, thermal limitations, power budgets, and design for manufacturing
• Develop optical and photometric requirements to meet product goals
• Own development of optical design standards and specifications to support evaluation of optical system performance
• Quickly ideate to conceptualize creative illumination solutions to a maturity necessary to conduct tradeoff analyses and inform risk vs reward
• Perform benchmark testing and competitive analysis
• Explore innovative mechanical concepts and complete complex mechanical designs
• Technology investigations, design, testing/validation, prototyping and supporting technology transfer to product development teams
• Ability to complete the most difficult tasks as a Master CAD‑user including the completion of complex mechanical designs (Solidworks/Onshape preferred)
• Good knowledge of GD&T and tolerance analysis
• Good knowledge of injection molding, die casting, sheet metal stamping, machining, etc
• Negotiate processes, materials, and design feasibility with factory and vendors
• Manage basic tradeoffs, determine risk mitigation plans, determine project goal/objective feasibility, provide technical input to product development plans/concept documents, and drive process vendors to evaluate complex mechanical designs and understand risk
• Lead explorations of new technologies and make estimates on moderately complex mechanical designs including: tooling, part cost, and design time
• Mentor level 1 and 2 engineers
• Overseas travel as required

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering AND a minimum of 5 years relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Master CAD‑user (Solidworks/Onshape preferred) - able to complete the most difficult tasks
• Demonstrated knowledge and capability to use CAD software for completing complex mechanical designs
• Demonstrated strong and effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Optics, or Physics
• 5+ years in illumination systems development of automotive exterior or interior lighting or related application
• Proficient in the use of optical software (LucidShape preferred, LightTools, Zemax, Speos)
• Experience designing custom reflector and solid optics using optics software and manual raytracing methods in Mechanical CAD
• Understanding of test methodologies for optical systems
• Understanding of thermal management of LEDs and associated drivers
• Experience with dynamic, digital, and software‑controlled lighting systems
• Understanding of CAE/Simulation methods
• Experience conducting CFD or FEA simulation for early thermal verification of lighting systems
• Electronic packaging design experience

Garmin International is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.

This position is eligible for Garmin’s benefit program. Details can be found here: Garmin Benefits