Staff Optical Engineer

About the role

MicroVision is at the forefront of driving the global adoption of innovative perception solutions, with the goal of making mobility and autonomy safer. Our engineering excellence, based in Washington State, Washington D.C., Hamburg, Germany and Orlando, Florida, enables us to develop and supply integrated lidar hardware and perception software solutions. Our proprietary technologies enhance safety and automation across various industrial applications, including robotics, automated warehouses, and agriculture, and are instrumental in the development of autonomous systems. MicroVision’s core technology, initially developed for the automotive industry, continues to accelerate advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. Building on our history of providing technology to the military segment, our target offerings include semi- and fully autonomous airborne and terrestrial sensor systems. With our solid-state lidar technologies, encompassing FMCW and MEMS-based long-range lidar and flash-based short-range lidar, integrated with our onboard perception software, MicroVision possesses the expertise to deliver safe mobility at the speed of life.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze optical components and subsystems using Zemax (OpticStudio)
• Perform optical system analysis, including performance trade studies and sensitivity assessments
• Conduct FRED based non sequential and stray light analysis
• Perform optical tolerance analysis to assess alignment and manufacturing sensitivities
• Define and document lens requirements, coatings and optical specifications
• Develop and execute optical lab setups for model validation and hardware characterization
• Work closely with global optical suppliers to review designs, specifications, and manufacturing approaches
• Provide technical guidance and review of optical designs and analyses across programs, ensuring consistency, rigor, and best-practice application
• Collaborate with opto-mechanical engineers to define alignment strategies and tolerances
• Support documentation, reviews, and technical decision making throughout development phases

Requirements

• 7-15+ years of industry experience in optical engineering with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Optics, Physics or related field
• Strong proficiency with Zemax (OpticStudio) for modeling, optimization, and tolerance analysis
• Hands-on experience with lens design and optical component development
• Demonstrated ability to perform optical system-level analysis
• Experience defining optical requirements and specifications
• Hands-on experience developing and analyzing solutions using MATLAB, Python, or similar programming tools
• Experience defining and reviewing optical coating specifications
• Hands-on experience designing and executing optical lab setups
• Experience working with global suppliers on optical components
• Able to work across modeling, lab validation, and design iteration cycles

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using FRED for stray light and non-sequential optical analysis
• Familiarity with opto-mechanical integration and alignment methods
• Experience supporting new product development or early production builds
• Experience interacting directly with optical vendors during development cycles
• Experience in LiDAR, imaging systems, or active optical sensors
• Experience in MS or PhD in Optical Engineering