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Thorlabs · 12 hours ago

Design Engineer II

Newton, NJ

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$76K/yr - $110K/yr

5+ years exp

Thorlabs is a company committed to advancing photonics technologies that positively impact various communities. The Design Engineer II – Optical Systems is responsible for designing and optimizing optical components and systems, ensuring manufacturability and cost-effectiveness while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Health CareManufacturing

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Independently design and develop optical systems from concept through production

Apply DFM and tolerance analysis to create manufacturable, reliable, and cost-effective designs

Leverage experience with readily available components to reduce cost, lead time, and supply chain risks

Use optical design and simulation tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V, LightTools) for advanced modeling and optimization

Lead optical aspects of prototype builds, testing, and validation

Mentor less experienced engineers in optical design practices and tools

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure optical requirements are communicated and implemented

Prepare technical specifications, documentation, and reports for engineering and manufacturing teams

Work with suppliers to ensure designs are manufacturable and practical

Qualification

Optical designDFMTolerance analysisZemaxOptical coatingsOpto-mechanical alignmentLeadershipProblem-solvingTeamworkMentoring

Required

5+ years of industry experience in optical design and development

Demonstrated ability to design with manufacturable, readily available components while balancing performance, cost, and availability

Hands-on experience with DFM, tolerance analysis, and optical system development

Effective at bridging communication between optics and non-optics specialists

Experience mentoring junior engineers or leading subprojects

Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Optical Science, or a related discipline

Strong expertise in geometrical and physical optics

Proficiency with optical design software (Zemax, Code V, LightTools, or equivalent)

Knowledge of optical coatings, materials, and system integration

Familiarity with opto-mechanical alignment and assembly practices

Strong leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork skills

Ability to execute tasks reliably, supporting adherence to development schedules

Preferred

Experience with laser beam delivery systems and/or laser material processing applications

Benefits

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Company paid life insurance

A generous PTO package

A 401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Company

Thorlabs

Glassdoor3.7

Thorlabs is a privately held optical equipment company.

Founded in 1989

New Jersey, Saint Patrick, TTO

1001-5000 employees

http://www.thorlabs.com

H1B Sponsorship

Thorlabs has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

Represents job field similar to this job

Trends of Total Sponsorships

2025 (11)

2024 (8)

2023 (2)

2022 (8)

2021 (6)

2020 (3)