Staff Optical Design Engineer

Posted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
San Jose, CA, USA
In-Office
112K-160K Annually
Senior level
3D Printing • Marketing Tech • Design
The Role
Designs and models optical trains for high-speed optical modules, optimizes parameters, and performs optical tolerance analysis. Collaborates with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and internal process, testing, and automation teams to improve manufacturability, assembly, and testing workflows. Supports optical failure analysis, reviews designs, and trains engineers. Requires strong optical testing, data analysis, communication, and multi-project coordination skills.
Summary Generated by Built In

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!
We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Position Title: Staff Optical Design Engineer

Employment Type: Full-time, Existing vacancy

Location: San-Jose (On-Site)

About Lumentum

At Lumentum, we’re building the tech behind the world’s fastest networks and most advanced systems. Our optical and photonic solutions power everything from AI and cloud computing to data centers, telecom, and advanced manufacturing.

We’re a global team of innovators working where light meets technology, solving big challenges that keep the world connected and moving forward. If shaping the future of connectivity excites you, you’ll fit right in.

Why You’ll Love This Role

Lumentum is seeking a candidate for the position of a Sr. optical design engineer. The position will be responsible for modeling optical trains in high-speed optical modules and performing optical components tolerance analysis. The position will work closely with module team to design optical system properly.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • As a core member of the design team, the candidate will be responsible for optical modeling and parameter optimization, as well as simulating and calculating related optical tolerances to guide other design aspects.
  • Communicate with suppliers and Contract Manufacturers / Supplier Design Engineers (CM/SDE) to build components and respond to their feedback and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) input. The candidate should maintain a strong understanding of advanced technologies and proactively identify the most suitable technical route for project needs.
  • Coordinate with internal teams, including Process, Testing, and Automation, to review and respond to their DFM items, optimize designs, and establish appropriate assembly and test workflows. The candidate should have strong experience designing for high manufacturability.
  • Responsible for supporting failure analysis on components and final products from an optical perspective. Candidates should have a wide range of technical knowledge, not limited to their specific job function, that can be applied to solve problems in other areas.
  • Responsible for training new optical engineers and conducting peer reviews of optical designs. 

What We’re Looking For

Education:
Master's or PhD degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field

Experience:
Core Requirements:

  • 5+ or more years of experience in optical design and simulation using Zemax.
  • Strong ability to test optical devices, analyze test data, and communicate results effectively.
  • Experience in passive and active micro-optics, integrated photonic chips, and optical system testing is strongly preferred.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Proficiency in MATLAB programming is a plus.
  • Ability to manage tasks across multiple projects simultaneously.

Perks You’ll Love

  • Flexible time off
  • Health and wellness benefits (physical and mental)
  • Tuition reimbursement and career growth support
  • A workplace built for you: free gym, games room, prayer room
  • Subsidized meals, free coffee/tea
  • Employee stock options and incentive plans
  • A collaborative, innovative, and inclusive culture

Join a Team That’s Shaping the Future

At Lumentum, we’re more than just a workplace—we’re a launchpad for creativity and innovation. We’re committed to celebrating your unique talents and helping you grow. Our guiding principles—Innovate, Engage, Deliver, Excel, and Win—aren’t just words; they’re the heart of what we do.

Let’s Build a Brighter Future Together!

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process. Your uniqueness makes us stronger, sparks creativity, and drives our success.

Please contact us at [email protected] to request accommodation.

Join us—your future starts here!

Pay Range:

P60-USA-1 :$112,050.00 - $160,050.00

Disclaimer:

Final base salary for the successful candidate will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job location, where work will be performed, qualifications, work history and relevant experience. With our continual goal of making Lumentum a best place to work for our employees, we strive to offer employees competitive total compensation packages, which may include annual bonus, commission for certain sales roles, equity, and health and welfare benefits.

Skills Required

  • Master's or PhD degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
  • At least 5 years of optical design and simulation experience using Zemax
  • Ability to test optical devices, analyze test data, and communicate results effectively
  • Strong communication skills
  • Ability to manage tasks across multiple projects simultaneously
  • Experience with passive and active micro-optics, integrated photonic chips, and optical system testing
  • Proficiency in MATLAB programming

Lumentum Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Lumentum and has not been reviewed or approved by Lumentum.

  • Equity Value & Accessibility Equity is positioned as a meaningful part of total compensation, with RSUs frequently framed as a valued component of offers. An employee stock purchase plan with a discount and look-back further reinforces equity access as part of rewards.
  • Retirement Support Retirement benefits are presented as a clear strength, with a 401(k) match and immediate vesting highlighted as supportive features. Auto-enrollment and match eligibility details indicate a structured retirement program for U.S. employees.
  • Healthcare Strength Multiple medical plan options are described, including PPO and HDHP/HSA choices and Kaiser in some locations, suggesting breadth and choice in coverage. Health and well-being programming is also characterized as part of a comprehensive benefits approach.

Lumentum Insights

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The Company
HQ: San Jose, CA
3,219 Employees

What We Do

Lumentum (NASDAQ: LITE) is a market-leading designer and manufacturer of innovative optical and photonic products enabling optical networking and laser applications worldwide. Lumentum optical components and subsystems are part of virtually every type of telecom, enterprise, and data center network. Lumentum lasers enable advanced manufacturing techniques and diverse applications including next-generation 3D sensing capabilities. Lumentum is headquartered in San Jose, California with R&D, manufacturing, and sales offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.lumentum.com.

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