Sr. Optical Engineer

Novanta Inc.; Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Novanta is seeking an Senior Optical Engineer to lead optical design for rotary and linear encoder systems, translating complex requirements into robust specifications and architectures. You will model, simulate, and validate optical systems using Zemax or Code V, working with cross-functional teams to balance performance, manufacturability, and cost.

The role requires hands-on lab experience, experience with diffractive optics, and collaboration with suppliers and customers.

Qualifications

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Physics or equivalent field with at least 8 years of related experience.
• Preferred: Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Physics or equivalent field with 6+ years of prior relevant experience.
• Solid understanding of diffractive optics and strong proficiency with optical design tools (Zemax, Code V)
• Hands-on lab experience in optical testing, metrology and characterization
• Hands-on experience with complex optical assembly development
• Lab and prototype development experience
• Experience working with optics vendors and manufacturing processes
• Capable of independent and team-based work with proactive problem solving
• Proficiency in Python, C++, and MATLAB
• Able to collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and management, while mentoring less experienced team members

Responsibilities

• Lead the optical design and development of rotary and linear encoder products, including diffractive optical elements, photosensors, light sources, and encoder scale designs.
• Translate system-level requirements into detailed optical specifications, including MTF, resolution, distortion, field of view, and illumination performance.
• Perform optical modeling, simulation, and analysis using Zemax to develop and optimize encoder optical architectures.
• Conduct opto-mechanical tolerance analysis, material selection, and define bonding and assembly processes to ensure robust product performance.
• Establish and manage optical performance budgets while balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost objectives; collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, manufacturing, and quality teams.
• Work with external suppliers and manufacturing partners to source, qualify, and scale optical components for high-volume production.
• Support product verification, validation, calibration, and field troubleshooting activities to ensure product performance and customer satisfaction.
• Evaluate custom versus COTS optical components and technologies to optimize product cost and performance.
• Investigate and resolve technical challenges with structured engineering and root-cause analysis methods.
• Contribute to project execution by supporting requirements definition, deliverables planning, schedules, budgets, and technical risk management.

Skills

Diffractive optics

Optical design

Python

C++

MATLAB

Lab testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Physics or equivalent

Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Physics or equivalent

Tools

Zemax

Code V

Job description

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission‑critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing. Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia‑Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.

As a Sr. Optical Engineer within Novanta's encoder business, you’ll lead the design and development of optical components and systems, focusing on creating innovative rotary and linear encoder solutions based on customer specifications and product management requirements. You will make critical technical decisions to ensure high-quality, high-performance products and provide technical leadership on complex, high-impact projects. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, you will tackle technical challenges and deliver outstanding results. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented, and adept at multitasking, with a strong background in modelling, simulation, prototyping, problem‑solving, and design of complex optical systems. You will also serve as a technical consultant and advisor to executives. This position is part of Novanta’s Robotics & Automation business unit. Robotics & Automation's cohesive vision, superior technologies, consultative team approach and best-in-class reliability make us the trusted partner in solving the most challenging motion control problems. Robotics & Automation's precision component and subsystem solutions solve application‑specific challenges for technology‑driven original equipment manufacturers from a range of markets.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead the optical design and development of rotary and linear encoder products, including diffractive optical elements, photosensors, light sources, and encoder scale designs.
• Translate system-level requirements into detailed optical specifications, including MTF, resolution, distortion, field of view, and illumination performance.
• Perform optical modeling, simulation, and analysis using tools such as Zemax to develop and optimize encoder optical architectures.
• Conduct opto‑mechanical tolerance analysis, material selection, and define bonding and assembly processes to ensure robust product performance.
• Establish and manage optical performance budgets while balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost objectives Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, manufacturing, and quality teams to integrate and validate optical solutions.
• Work with external suppliers and manufacturing partners to source, qualify, and scale optical components for high-volume production.
• Support product verification, validation, calibration, and field troubleshooting activities to ensure product performance and customer satisfaction.
• Evaluate custom versus commercial off‑the‑shelf (COTS) optical components and technologies to optimize product cost and performance.
• Investigate and resolve technical challenges encountered during product development, manufacturing, and field operation using structured engineering and root‑cause analysis methods.
• Contribute to project execution by supporting requirements definition, deliverables planning, schedules, budgets, and technical risk management.

Required Experience, Education, Skills and Competencies Minimum:

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Physics or equivalent field with at least 8 years of related experience.
• Preferred: Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Physics or equivalent field with 6+ years of prior relevant experience.
• Solid understanding of diffractive optic Strong proficiency with optical design tools ( Zemax , Code V, or similar)
• Hands‑on lab experience in optical testing, metrology and characterization
• Hands‑on experience with complex optical assembly development.
• Lab and prototype development experience
• Experience working with optics vendors and manufacturing processes
• Capable of independent and team-based work, with a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, and MATLAB.
• Able to collaborate effectively with clients, stakeholders, and management, while mentoring less experienced team members.

The salary for this role will range from $130,000 to $175,000 annually based on full‑time employment. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to location, relevant skills, training, experience, education, etc. Certain roles may be eligible for performance-based incentive compensation and/or long‑term incentives. Incentives could be discretionary or non‑discretionary depending on the plan.

Novanta supports all aspects of your life’s needs. This position provides a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits to make your quality of life better.

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy. Please call [phone] if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.

Solving complex challenges, delivering innovations that matter! Novanta is a leading global supplier of core technology solutions that give medical, life science, and advanced industrial original equipment manufacturers a competitive advantage. We combine deep proprietary expertise and competencies in precision medicine, precision manufacturing, robotics and automation, and advanced surgery with a proven ability to solve complex technical challenges. This enables Novanta to engineer proprietary technology solutions that deliver extreme precision and performance, tailored to our customers' demanding applications. The driving force behind our growth is the team of innovative professionals who share a commitment to innovation, the Novanta Growth System, and our customers’ success. Novanta’s common shares are quoted on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "NOVT".