Senior Optical Design Engineer

About the Role Cognex is seeking a highly skilled Senior Optical Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced optical systems for industrial machine vision products. This role covers the full lifecycle of optical engineering, from conceptualization and simulation to prototyping, testing, and manufacturing support. What You'll Do

• Lead the design and development of complex optical systems for industrial machine vision applications, including lenses, illumination modules, and sensor interfaces.
• Utilize optical design software Zemax for system modeling, simulation, analysis, and tolerancing.
• Conduct feasibility studies, trade-off analyses, and detailed performance predictions for new optical architectures.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of optical designs into overall product architecture.
• Specify, evaluate, and select optical components, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Develop and execute optical validation and verification test plans, including setting up optical benches and performing critical measurements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve optical performance issues throughout the product development cycle and into production. What We're Looking For
• Bachelor or above in Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in optical design and engineering, preferably in industrial or scientific imaging, machine vision, or a related high-tech industry.
• Expert proficiency with industry-standard optical design software; Zemax is preferred.
• Strong understanding of imaging optics, illumination principles, lens design, stray light analysis, and optical coatings.
• Demonstrated experience with the full product development lifecycle, from concept to mass production.
• Hands-on experience with optical lab equipment, alignment procedures, and metrology tools.
• Familiarity with common optical manufacturing processes and their impact on design and tolerancing.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with a methodical and analytical approach to complex technical challenges.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly present technical information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment.