Optical Engineer

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This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have current and ongoing authorization to work in the United States.

The Optics Engineer is responsible for the design development characterization validation and technical support of automotive camera products. Responsibilities include development of lens imager camera-system and optical test specifications; optical performance optimization; advanced laboratory characterization; manufacturing and calibration support; and resolution of complex optical performance issues throughout the product-development lifecycle.

The role may be assigned primarily to Optical Development Optical Test and Characterization or a combination of both based on program and organizational needs. The engineer works independently on intermediate-to-advanced assignments and serves as a technical resource within cross-functional and global teams.

• Lead optical design and development activities for automotive camera products including requirements definition component evaluation implementation test debug and design release.
• Develop optical architectures and system-level specifications for lenses CMOS imagers illumination paths filters and complete camera systems.
• Evaluate CMOS image sensors and optimize camera performance through imager configuration register tuning and quantitative image-quality assessment.
• Develop or specify multi-element lenses optimized for automotive near-field and far-field applications.
• Perform optical tolerancing sensitivity analysis and design-tradeoff assessments that balance performance robustness manufacturability and cost.
• Provide technical ownership of optical performance requirements and support program milestones design reviews customer deliverables and launch readiness.
• Identify optical technical risks and define practical mitigation plans to protect program timing quality and customer commitments.

• Develop implement validate and continuously improve optical test methods for lenses image sensors and complete automotive camera systems.
• Perform advanced optical characterization including MTF and spatial resolution distortion relative illumination color and spectral response noise and dynamic range flare stray light ghosting veiling glare and overall image quality.
• Develop test specifications procedures acceptance criteria correlation methods measurement-system analyses and reporting templates for camera development programs.
• Design and automate optical test processes to improve throughput repeatability data quality and utilization of laboratory equipment.
• Analyze complex optical performance issues use quantitative data to determine root cause and recommend corrective actions to development manufacturing supplier and customer teams.
• Plan and execute validation activities throughout the development lifecycle while enabling parallel support of multiple programs without compromising technical rigor.
• Evaluate emerging optical measurement technologies and characterization methods that improve next-generation camera development and validation.

• Interface with mechanical electrical hardware software systems manufacturing quality and supplier teams to ensure seamless integration of the optical system into the ECU and camera module.
• Assess the effects of mechanical packaging assembly tolerances thermal behavior contamination calibration electronics and software processing on optical performance.
• Support manufacturing process development assembly end-of-line testing calibration yield improvement and correlation between development and production measurement systems.
• Support customer escalations field investigations design-validation issues and structured corrective-action activities using disciplined problem-solving methods.

• Serve as a technical resource and subject-matter expert for camera optics optical characterization image-quality analysis and test methodology.
• Mentor engineers and technicians in optical measurement techniques data interpretation laboratory practices and structured problem solving.
• Drive continuous-improvement initiatives that increase optical test efficiency technical depth repeatability and organizational capability.
• Provide clear data-based technical recommendations to internal leadership cross-functional teams suppliers and customers.
• Contribute to optical technology roadmaps lessons learned standard methods reusable tools and knowledge transfer across global engineering teams.
• Perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives safety requirements and the Quality Operating System.

• Masters degree in optical engineering applied physics electrical engineering imaging science or a related field. Ph.D. preferred.
• Four to eight years of relevant experience in optical design camera development optical testing image-quality engineering or related serial-product development.
• Automotive electronics or automotive camera development experience strongly preferred. Comparable experience in high-volume consumer industrial medical or professional imaging products may be considered when directly relevant.
• Demonstrated experience independently executing complex optical engineering assignments and delivering practical data-based results.

• Experience specifying designing or evaluating visible-spectrum lenses and imaging systems; automotive camera lens experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of CMOS image-sensor characteristics camera tuning image-signal behavior and their effects on system performance.
• Demonstrated competence in optical performance characterization and image-quality metrics including MTF distortion relative illumination flare stray light ghosting color noise dynamic range and related measures.
• Experience developing optical test strategies laboratory setups automated measurements analysis methods and test specifications for complex camera systems.
• Understanding of optical tolerancing sensitivity analysis measurement uncertainty repeatability reproducibility and performance variation across environmental and manufacturing conditions.
• Cross-disciplinary understanding of optical-mechanical design packaging electrical design software image processing thermal effects manufacturing assembly and calibration.
• Experience with high-volume cost-sensitive camera design and manufacturing including design-for-manufacture and production-test considerations.
• Familiarity with automotive OEM camera requirements customer-specific requirements and environmental and durability expectations for automotive electronic modules.
• Demonstrated ability to independently diagnose complex optical problems identify root cause and lead corrective actions using structured methods such as 8D.
• Demonstrated innovation through patents publications test-method development technical standards reusable tools or products brought to market.
• Ability to bring structure to ambiguous technical problems establish direction prioritize work and guide teams toward sound engineering decisions.

• Optical design and analysis tools such as Zemax OpticStudio and/or CODE V.
• Camera and image-quality analysis tools optical laboratory instruments and optical-mechanical alignment setups.
• Data analysis and test automation using appropriate engineering tools; experience with Python MATLAB LabVIEW or equivalent platforms is preferred.
• Microsoft Office with strong proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint for technical analysis and communication.
• Working knowledge of requirements management configuration management and project monitoring tools; PTC Codebeamer or equivalent experience preferred.

• Expert written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present complex optical topics clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to represent optical design and test topics internally with suppliers and with customers.
• Self-motivated tenacious and able to work independently with limited supervision while collaborating effectively in a global cross-functional environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of English. Knowledge of the local working language is an asset where applicable.
• Domestic and international travel may be required.

• Comply with the Magna Charter and Constitution Code of Conduct and Ethics Quality Policy and Objectives Environmental Policy and applicable company policies and processes.
• Review and comply with applicable Customer Specific Requirements.
• Follow safe work procedures use required personal protective equipment and promptly report workplace hazards injuries and illnesses.
• Maintain regular attendance and complete applicable new-hire new-position quality environmental and health-and-safety training.

Normal amount of sitting and standing average mobility to move around an office laboratory and plant environment and the ability to perform a normal amount of computer and laboratory work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.

At Magna we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. Thats why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications and in consideration of job requirements regardless of in particular color ancestry religion gender origin sexual orientation age citizenship marital status disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.

As part of our commitment to a fair consistent and efficient recruitment process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our Workday system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies.

If you have any questions or concerns about this process feel free to contact our Talent Attraction team.