Senior Optics Engineer (m/f/d)

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For our location in Berlin, Germany, we are looking for a 

Senior Optics Engineer (m/f/d)

Opportunity to work with a global team of professionals in a dynamic and fast-paced industry.

Professional development opportunities and a chance to work on cutting-edge technologies in optical interconnects for AI applications.

Scope of Position:

Development and technical leadership of micro‑optical systems, components, and sub‑assemblies for next‑generation optical connectivity solutions targeting high‑performance datacenter, AI, and optical compute network applications.

The role combines advanced optical modeling and simulation, system‑level architecture definition, and experimental validation, with accountability for technical direction, design quality, and risk mitigation across development programs. 

Day to Day Responsibilities:

• Act as Technical Lead for micro‑optics development activities, owning optical architecture, performance budgets, and technical decision‑making.
• Lead the design, modeling, and simulation of advanced optical systems and components (e.g., free‑space micro‑optics, fiber‑to‑chip interfaces, coupling structures, tolerance models).
• Develop and maintain system‑level optical models, translating component behavior into end‑to‑end performance predictions (IL, RL, bandwidth, polarization behavior, alignment sensitivity, yield).
• Drive experimental validation of optical designs through laboratory measurements, correlation of simulation to data, and iterative design refinement.
• Translate customer, system, and market requirements into robust optical concepts suitable for industrialization and high‑volume manufacturing.
• Provide technical guidance to cross‑functional teams spanning opto‑mechanical design, process engineering, metrology, and manufacturing.
• Lead and contribute to design reviews, risk assessments (e.g., FMEA), and trade‑off studies with a strong focus on performance, manufacturability, and scalability.
• Support the transition from development to manufacturing, including DFM/DFA considerations and technical support during ramp‑up.
• Document architectures, models, test results, and design rationales in clear, high‑quality technical documentation.

Required Education:

• Master's Degree or PhD in Optical Engineering, Optical Physics, Electrical Engineering or related discipline.

Critical Required Skills and Experience:

• 10+ years of industrial experience in optical engineering, optical connectivity solutions, photonics, or related fields (Senior position).
• Expert‑level proficiency in optical modeling and simulation, including tolerance analysis and performance budgeting.
• Profound system‑level optical understanding, with demonstrated ability to model and optimize complete optical links and subsystems.
• Strong experimental background, including hands‑on laboratory work and correlation of simulation to measured performance.
• Proven industrial experience in optical connectivity solutions, such as fiber‑to‑chip interfaces, micro‑optics, photonic integration, or high‑density interconnects.
• Demonstrated ability to act as Technical Lead, guiding design direction, mentoring engineers, and interfacing with senior technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency with optical and system simulation tools (e.g., Zemax, Ansys Interconnect, Lumerical, or equivalent) and CAD environments.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, tolerancing, and design for manufacturing (DFM) in optical components.

Desired Requirements:

• Experience with high‑bandwidth or advanced modulation optical systems.
• Familiarity with statistical tolerance analysis, yield modeling, and reliability assessment.
• Programming or scripting experience (e.g., Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW) for data analysis and modeling automation.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent structured problem‑solving background.
• Experience working in global, cross‑functional development teams.

Soft Skills:

• Strong technical leadership mindset with the ability to influence without authority.
• Highly self‑motivated, structured, and detail‑oriented.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining complex optical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to balance deep technical rigor with pragmatic, product‑focused decision‑making.
• Fluent English (spoken and written); German language skills are a plus.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for collaboration with global partners or customers.