Senior Optical Design Engineer - Explorations team

Overview

We are seeking a full-time Senior Optical Engineer on our IXP Explorations Team in our Cary, NC or Olathe, KS location. In this role, you will be responsible for providing technical leadership and project planning for complex optical designs, technologies, or systems that are new for Garmin under general direction. This role will focus on non-imaging optical systems for various lighting applications such as signal, conspicuity, and forward illumination systems.

Essential Functions 

• Design and develop custom non-imaging optical systems for various consumer electronics lighting applications 

• Conduct optical simulation and analysis for concept development and design change verification 

• Expert use of one or more optical simulation software tools (LucidShape, ZEMAX, Code V, Light Tools, TracePro, etc.)

• Transform optical surfaces into mechanical component models that are manufacturable 

• Collaborate with ID, ME, EE, and Optical/Illumination engineers throughout development 

• Define boundary constraints due to ID goals, electromechanical integration, thermal limitations, power budgets, and design for manufacturing 

• Develop optical and photometric requirements to meet product goals and analyze test data and reports to validate requirements are met

• Quickly ideate to perform cost/performance tradeoff analysis of different design options 

• Perform benchmark testing and competitive analysis 

• Estimate complex optical designs including tooling, part cost and design time 

• Serve in leadership capacity for completing complex designs or simulations/analysis such as tolerancing, stray light, non-sequential, etc. on optical systems incorporating a variety of surface/object types such as aspheric lenses, reflectors, prisms, freeform optics, projected graphics, optical coatings, collimated optical systems and illumination systems 

• Support manufacture, build, and test of moderately complex optical prototypes 

• Negotiate with cross functional teams to develop robust optical designs considering manufacturable tolerances, dimensional space constraints and appropriate testability 

• Design optics and optical systems to meet environmental and reliability requirements 

• Work with mechanical engineering to consider tolerances, thermal, and dimensional space requirements 

• Collaborate/add value through participation in design reviews, providing comments on optical design aspects and other engineering areas across multiple product types 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Optical Engineering, Bachelor of Arts in Physics, or related field AND a minimum of 5 years relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience 

• Excellent academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 as a general rule) 

• Demonstrated strong/excellent and effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills 

• Thorough knowledge of optical manufacturing processes such as machining, polishing, molding and optical coatings and production and operations issues as they relate to engineering 

• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgement in setting schedules, taking risks and completing tasks 

• Must demonstrate proficiency with complex optical components and optical systems 

Desired Qualifications 

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering 

• Extensive optical design experience in illumination systems for consumer, automotive, or aviation products or related applications 

• Understanding of thermal management of LEDs and associated drivers 

• Proficient in the use of CAD software (SolidWorks/Onshape preferred) 

• Experience defining PCB footprints and communicating to EE via IDF exports 

Garmin International is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.

This position is eligible for Garmin's benefit program. Details can be found here: Garmin Benefits