Senior Optical Design Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 13, 2026. First seen by Alion on Jun 2, 2026. Cognex scores B on the Alion truth index.
Job Description
Job Summary
Cognex Corporation is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Optical Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced optical systems for our cutting-edge machine vision products. This role involves full lifecycle optical engineering, from conceptualization and simulation to prototyping, testing, and manufacturing support.
Job Responsibilities
* Lead the design and development of complex optical systems for industrial machine vision applications, including lenses, illumination modules, and sensor interfaces.
* Utilize optical design software---Zemax, for system modeling, simulation, analysis, and tolerancing.
* Conduct feasibility studies, trade-off analyses, and detailed performance predictions for new optical architectures.
* Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of optical designs into overall product architecture.
* Specify, evaluate, and select optical components, materials, and manufacturing processes.
* Develop and execute optical validation and verification test plans, including setting up optical benches and performing critical measurements.
* Troubleshoot and resolve optical performance issues throughout the product development cycle and into production.
Job Qualifications
* Bachelor or above in Optical Engineering, or a related field.
* 5+ years of professional experience in optical design and engineering, preferably in industrial or scientific imaging, machine vision, or a related high-tech industry.
* Expert proficiency with industry-standard optical design software, Zemax is preferred.
* Strong understanding of imaging optics, illumination principles, lens design, stray light analysis, and optical coatings.
* Demonstrated experience with the full product development lifecycle, from concept to mass production.
* Hands-on experience with optical lab equipment, alignment procedures, and metrology tools.
* Familiarity with common optical manufacturing processes and their impact on design and tolerancing.
* Excellent problem-solving skills, with a methodical and analytical approach to complex technical challenges.
* Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly present technical information to diverse audiences.
* Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment.