Optical Design Engineer

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Date: Jul 29, 2025

Location: Fairport, NY, US, 14450

Company: Corning

Requisition Number: 69955

 

The company built on breakthroughs. ​  
Join us.​            
       

                                                          

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.  ​  

 

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations – not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company, and the world, forward. ​  

 

​At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.​   

 

Come break through with us.  

 

Corning’s businesses are ever evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, and automotive markets. We are changing the world with: 

  • Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
  • Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected
  • Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light
  • Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences 
  •  Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation 

Scope of Position

We seek an Optical Design Engineer to become an integral member of the Corning Advanced Optics’ world-class team with responsibilities including:

  • Lens design form development of complex optical systems distilled from customer requirements.
  • Realization of fabrication tolerances and build strategy for multi element lens systems using custom sensitivity and tolerancing software.
  • Collaborate with system metrology engineers to develop appropriate test and optimization station.
  • Provide optical design support to the manufacturing team.
  • Work within a multi-disciplined project team to analyze, engineer, and build lens systems from concept to completion.                  

Experiences/Education - Required

  • BS, MS, or PhD in optics/optical engineering or related disciples with multiple completed optical design projects.
  • Minimum 2 to 5 years of applied experience working in design engineering development of complex lens assemblies
  • Highly proficient using commercially available optical design software for optimization and analysis of imaging optical systems  (CODE V - preferred or Zemax).
  • Experience with distilling a complex set of customer optical system requirements into a cohesive set of design specifications.
  • Keen understanding of optical manufacturing strategies, sensitivity analysis, tolerancing, and fabrication methods.
  • Familiarity with lens system performance metrics (wavefront, resolution, distortion, transmission, polarization, first order properties, etc.).
  • Ability to communicate and share optical design concepts with multi-disciplinary team.

Experiences/Education - Desired

  • Understanding and familiarity in the execution of a new optical projects from design concept, engineering, and delivering optical hardware.
  • Understanding of principles and design concepts for illumination optical systems.
  • Experience using a broad suite of optical software analysis tools for both imaging and illumination systems (e.g., CODE V, Zemax, LightTools, FRED, etc.).
  • Optical design experience in monochromatic and broad band lens systems functioning in the UV and/or visible portions of the spectrum. Familiarity with refractive, reflective and catadioptric design forms.
  • Experience designing with aspheres.
  • Data analysis and basic script development in MATLAB or Python. Experience using macro programming languages.
  • We encourage applications from early career to seasoned optical design engineers.

 

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

 

The range for this position is $95,386.00 - $131,156.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. The benefits available for this position are dependent on hours worked and may include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, pension plan, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, and PTO.

 

 

A job that shapes a life.  

Corning offers you the total package.  

 

 Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial, and career from day one

  • As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, we provide a 100% company-paid pension benefit that grows throughout your career.  We also offer a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions.  
  • Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company-paid life insurance, disability, and disease management programs. 
  • Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives, align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well – when Corning wins, we all win.     
  • Getting paid for our work is important but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a peer-to-peer recognition program to celebrate success by recognizing colleagues who demonstrate above-and-beyond behaviors.  

 

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

 

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To request an accommodation, please contact us at accommodations@corning.com.


Nearest Major Market: Rochester

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