Optical Design Engineer

Title

Optical Design Engineer

Department

Engineering

Reports to

Director of Engineering

SEE YOUR CAREER THROUGH A NEW LENS WITH RPO!

RPO is a global leader in precision optics, optical components, and optical assemblies. We specialize in a full spectrum of products & services including – Design and Engineering, Systems Integration, Lens Assembly, Visible and Infrared Components, Glass and Plastic Molded Aspheres, and Thin Film Coating. As one of the fastest growing companies in Rochester, RPO offers exciting career paths and work on market-leading programs. See below one of many career opportunities to join the RPO team!

Position Overview:

The Optical Design Engineer is responsible for the design, analysis, tolerancing, and support of precision optical systems from concept through production. Working closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Program teams, this role develops optical solutions that meet customer requirements while ensuring designs are manufacturable, testable, and cost-effective. The successful candidate will apply strong optical design principles to create and optimize lens assemblies and optical systems, perform performance and tolerance analyses, and support the transition of designs into production. This position requires a practical understanding of how optical, mechanical, and manufacturing considerations interact to influence overall system performance.

In addition to supporting new product development, this role serves as a technical resource for troubleshooting optical performance issues, improving existing products, and supporting optical metrology and validation activities. The ideal candidate combines strong theoretical optics knowledge with hands-on experience developing optical designs that have been successfully manufactured and deployed in real-world applications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop optical systems and lens assemblies for commercial, industrial, and government applications using industry-standard optical design software.
• Perform optical analysis including imaging performance, tolerancing, sensitivity analysis, and system optimization.
• Develop manufacturable optical designs that balance performance, cost, producibility, and schedule requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure successful transition of designs from development into production.
• Create, review, and approve engineering documentation including optical prescriptions, specifications, drawings, and design reports.
• Support troubleshooting and root cause investigations related to optical system performance, assembly challenges, manufacturing variation, and test results.
• Develop and execute optical verification and validation plans to confirm compliance with performance requirements.
• Support optical metrology activities including lens characterization, alignment verification, and performance testing.
• Conduct stray light analysis and support mitigation efforts using established optical engineering best practices.
• Utilize Zemax Optic Studio and other analysis tools to model, evaluate, and improve optical system performance.
• Develop scripts, automation tools, and analytical methods that improve design efficiency, tolerancing workflows, and engineering productivity.
• Serve as a technical resource to manufacturing, quality, and engineering teams throughout product lifecycles.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Optics, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related discipline required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience designing optical systems and lens assemblies within a commercial, industrial, defense, aerospace, medical device, or precision manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with Zemax Optic Studio for optical design, analysis, tolerancing, and optimization.
• Demonstrated experience performing optical analysis, tolerancing, sensitivity studies, and performance optimization.
• Solid understanding of optical performance metrics including MTF, distortion, illumination, image quality, and system tolerancing.
• Experience designing lens systems or optical assemblies that have progressed beyond academic projects into prototype, production, or commercial applications.
• Ability to review and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements while ensuring designs are manufacturable, testable, and cost-effect…