Intern - Optical Design Software & Automation Engineer (PhD Level)
Intern - Optical Design Software & Automation Engineer (PhD Level)
Posted yesterday
SENIORITY
Senior
About the role
- Design, model, and analyze imaging, illumination, and optical systems using CODE V, LightTools, and related optical simulation tools
- Develop software and automation frameworks for optical design, analysis, optimization, tolerance studies, and design trade studies
- Design and prototype agentic or semi-autonomous workflows that orchestrate multi-step optical simulation, optimization, and evaluation pipelines
- Integrate CODE V, LightTools, and RSoft through software APIs and custom workflow automation
- Develop cross-product workflows that combine ray-optics, illumination, imaging, and photonics analyses to support end-to-end engineering studies
- Support optical system performance evaluation, design exploration, and optimization across multiple simulation environments
- Develop and validate numerical algorithms for optimization, workflow integration, and engineering decision support
- Explore AI-assisted or rule-based approaches for optical design iteration, trade-study execution, and workflow coordination
- Document workflows and deliver reusable, production-quality software tools
- Collaborate closely with application engineers, optical design experts, and software development teams
- PhD candidate in Optics, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- Strong foundation in geometrical optics, physical optics, imaging systems, illumination optics, and computational optics
- Hands-on experience with optical design and analysis tools such as CODE V, LightTools, Zemax OpticStudio, LucidShape, or similar platforms
- Advanced programming skills in C++/Rust and Python
- Experience building research-grade or production-quality software tools
- Interest in automation, workflow orchestration, and engineering productivity solutions
- Experience embedding optimization heuristics, decision logic, or AI-assisted capabilities into engineering workflows
- Preferred / Differentiating Skills
- Experience designing imaging, illumination, camera, AR/VR, automotive, display, or related optical systems
- Experience with freeform optics, tolerance analysis, stray-light analysis, or large-scale optical optimizationAPI-level integration with commercial optical simulation tools
- Experience building software workflows that connect multiple engineering applications, including optical and photonics simulation environments
- Familiarity with agent-based, workflow-oriented, or multi-step automation frameworks
- Knowledge of photonics or electromagnetic simulation tools such as RSoft is a plus
- Demonstrated ability to translate advanced optical engineering concepts into usable software solutions
- Familiarity with modern software development practices, including source control, code reviews, automated testing, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), and collaborative development workflows using industry-standard tools
Before you apply
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Your profile is current
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Two examples you can talk through
Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.
A number in mind
What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.
Your notice period
Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.
Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.
