Senior Optical Engineer

About us: 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. To strengthen our team at the Orlando location, we are looking for a Senior Optical Engineer. As a key member of MicroVision’s Product Engineering team, you will contribute to the design, analysis, and validation of free-space optical systems for cost-optimized automotive LiDAR products, working closely with cross-functional engineering teams and mentored by senior optical staff. Summary: The Senior Optical Engineer contributes to the design, analysis, and testing of optical systems and components for MicroVision’s LiDAR sensor products. This role requires a solid foundation in free-space optical design, working knowledge of electro-optical components, and the ability to translate optical performance requirements into well-specified, manufacturable designs. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience with optical modeling tools, lab-based validation, test scripting, and is driven by a product-focused mindset that balances technical performance with real-world cost and manufacturability constraints. Your responsibilities: Optical Design and Analysis Perform optical design and analysis of free-space optical systems using Zemax OpticStudio, including lens layout definition, system performance evaluation, trade studies, and design iteration Conduct optical tolerance analysis to assess sensitivity to manufacturing variation, alignment error, and environmental effects; own the optical alignment tolerance budget, ensuring allocations across components and assemblies are well-defined, tracked, and reconciled against system-level requirements Define and document optical component requirements and specifications, including lens prescriptions, surface form and finish, aperture and field requirements, and environmental performance expectations Work with optical suppliers to design, validate, and deliver optical components — including coatings, lenses, and filter elements — ensuring deliverables meet performance, tolerance, and cost requirements through specification review, design iteration, and first article validation Apply knowledge of optical manufacturing methods — including molded aspheres, precision glass elements, diffractive optics, and thin-film coatings — to inform design decisions and provide DFM feedback throughout the development cycle Contribute to cost-optimization strategies for optical designs, identifying opportunities to reduce component cost through lens architecture choices, material selection, manufacturing method tradeoffs, and specification rationalization Collaborate with manufacturing engineering to develop low cycle time optical alignment processes and stations, translating alignment tolerance budgets into practical production-ready procedures and fixtures Electro-Optical Component and Systems Knowledge Apply working knowledge of laser-based illumination sources, including VCSELs, VCSEL arrays, and fiber lasers, to support optical design and system-level performance analysis in LiDAR transmit path design Apply knowledge of photodetector and receiver technologies, including single-element and array detectors, avalanche photodiodes (APDs), and SPADs, to inform optical design decisions in LiDAR receive path development Support system-level performance analysis by connecting optical design parameters — including throughput, beam divergence, spot size, and collection efficiency — to electro-optical component performance requirements Collaborate with electrical and systems engineering teams to ensure optical designs are compatible with electro-optical component interfaces, mounting constraints, and thermal operating conditions Optical Testing, Validation, and Scripting Design and execute optical lab test setups for component and subsystem characterization, including far-field beam profiling, wavefront measurement, MTF evaluation, throughput and alignment verification, and stray light assessment Demonstrate working knowledge of optical metrology equipment and measurement best practices, including interferometers, profilometers, spectrophotometers, beam analyzers, and imaging-based measurement systems; apply appropriate measurement techniques to ensure data quality and traceability Write and maintain test scripts and data analysis tools using Python, MATLAB, or similar languages to automate optical measurements, instrument control, and analysis workflows Correlate test results with model predictions, documenting discrepancies and supporting root cause investigation in collaboration with optical and systems engineering staff Support design validation events and qualification testing across environmental, thermal, and reliability test conditions, contributing to test planning and hardware preparation Collaboration and Documentation Collaborate with opto-mechanical, electrical, systems, and manufacturing engineering teams to support integrated product development, ensuring optical designs are compatible with system-level constraints Generate and maintain optical design documentation including specifications, analysis reports, design review materials, and release artifacts Support supplier interactions for optical components under the guidance of senior engineering staff, contributing to design reviews, specification reviews, and first article evaluation activities Our Required Skills and Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field 5–10 years of industry experience in optical engineering with demonstrated involvement in product-focused development programs Proficiency with Zemax OpticStudio for optical system modeling, performance analysis, and tolerance analysis Demonstrated experience designing free-space optical systems, including lens definition, system layout, and performance trade studies Working knowledge of electro-optical components relevant to LiDAR or active sensing systems, including laser sources (VCSELs) and photodetectors (APDs, SPADs) Experience designing and executing optical lab test setups for component and subsystem characterization Experience writing test scripts or analysis tools using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent programming environments Familiarity with optical component specifications including coatings, tolerances, surface quality, and material properties Working knowledge of optical manufacturing methods with the ability to apply DFM principles to optical design decisions, balancing technical performance against cost, manufacturability, and schedule constraints Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to document optical analyses and specifications clearly Preferred Qualifications Master’s or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field Experience with LiDAR systems, active illumination sensors, or other time-of-flight or ranging optical architectures Familiarity with non-sequential optical modeling or stray light analysis using FRED, LightTools, or equivalent tools Experience supporting optical component development with external suppliers, including specification review and first article evaluation Familiarity with opto-mechanical integration, alignment strategies, and tolerance stack-up analysis Experience with laser safety standards and classifications applicable to LiDAR and active optical systems Experience with regulated industry product development processes, including environmental standards and reliability qualification testing Experience with image quality metrics, wavefront analysis, or interferometric measurement techniques Experience with mass-production optical elements including micro-lens arrays, plastic injection-molded optics, and other non-traditional lens architectures relevant to high-volume LiDAR designs MicroVision offers a flexible work schedule that could include a hybrid schedule of onsite and remote work, subject to team and business needs. Individual work schedules will be at the discretion of management and dependent on role and business needs. You must live and reside within commuting distance from MicroVision’s office in Orlando, FL. We are not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position. You must be able to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. Benefits: MicroVision is proud to offer a comprehensive benefit program including: Competitive compensation and equity program Choice between an HSA Medical plan with 100% employer-paid premiums for employees and generous contributions or a Buy-Up PPO Medical plan Buy-Up PPO Dental plan 100% employer-paid for employees Vision coverage 100% employer-paid for employees 401(k) plan with company match to help you save for your future (50% of your contributions up to the first 6% of your eligible pay) Generous time off package including a flexible vacation program as well as incidental personal/sick days and standard holidays Supplemental pay for Parental Leave Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance and long-term disability MicroVision is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. MicroVision is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran or any other basis prohibited by local, state or federal law. Please let us know if you need reasonable accommodation in completing the application, attending and/or participating in an interview or in taking any test required for employment. MicroVision is an E-Verify participant. We will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employees’ Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. Please note that we do not use this information to pre-screen job applicants. Visit our website at www.microvision.com to learn more about our company.