Job Description
R&D Optical Engineer

Summary

Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division develops advanced manufacturing technologies that help customers accelerate innovation, improve productivity, and deliver the highest levels of quality through industry-leading inspection and production solutions. 
 
As an R&D Optical Engineer, you will design, develop, and validate advanced optical and electro-optical systems that form the foundation of Hexagon's next generation of industrial inspection solutions. Working across the full product development lifecycle, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to create innovative optical solutions that deliver outstanding image quality, measurement accuracy, and product reliability. 

Job Responsibilities

Optical System Design 

 

Design and develop advanced optical and electro-optical systems from concept through production. 

Perform optical modelling, simulation, analysis, prototyping, and validation. 

Develop optical architectures optimising image quality, illumination, resolution, and measurement accuracy. 

Evaluate alternative optical concepts and technologies. 

 

 

Product Development 

 

Lead optical engineering activities throughout the product lifecycle. 

Support feasibility, prototyping, verification, validation, and New Product Introduction. 

Collaborate with Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, and Quality Engineering. 

Ensure designs meet performance, manufacturability, cost, and reliability requirements. 

 

Optical Analysis & Validation 

 

Perform optical modelling using Zemax, Code V, or equivalent. 

Conduct lens selection, optical alignment, MTF analysis, and field-of-view optimisation. 

Develop and execute validation plans. 

Analyse optical performance data and implement improvements. 

Supplier & Manufacturing Support 

 

Collaborate with suppliers on manufacturability. 

Support manufacturing during product introduction. 

Resolve optical manufacturing issues. 

Participate in design reviews and supplier evaluations. 

 

Innovation & Continuous Improvement 

 

Research emerging optical technologies. 

Support patent generation. 

Contribute to technology roadmaps. 

Promote continuous improvement. 

Qualifications

Required 

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline. 

Professional experience developing optical or electro-optical products. 

Strong understanding of optical system design. 

Experience with Zemax, Code V, or equivalent. 

Experience designing imaging systems and optical assemblies. 

Knowledge of optical alignment, lens selection, illumination, MTF, and field-of-view optimisation. 

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 

Excellent communication and collaboration. 

Key Competencies 

Optical System Design; Electro-optical Engineering; Optical Modelling & Simulation; Lens Design; Imaging Systems; Optical Alignment; MTF Analysis; Illumination Design; Product Development; Cross-functional Collaboration; Technical Problem Solving; Innovation & Research. 

Leadership Expectations 

Provide technical leadership within optical engineering; collaborate across multidisciplinary teams; drive innovation and quality; mentor colleagues; support continuous learning and engineering excellence.
 
Regular collaboration with global engineering teams, work in laboratories and optical development facilities, interaction with prototype systems and suppliers, and occasional domestic/international travel. 

 

Why Join Hexagon 

Help develop advanced optical technologies enabling customers to inspect, measure, and manufacture with exceptional precision while working with multidisciplinary engineering teams. 

Explore Life at Hexagon 

Today, everything from the phone in your pocket to the aeroplanes crossing the sky functions because we can measure the world around us. 
 
At Hexagon, measurement is in our DNA. From microns to Mars, we measure what matters for the future. 
 
Instagram: @hexagon_mi | @hexagon_ab 
LinkedIn: Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence 
YouTube: Hexagon MI | Hexagon AB 
Twitter/X: @HexagonMI | @HexagonAB 
Facebook: Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence 
 
Hexagon is the global leader in measurement technologies with approximately 17,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately EUR 3.7 billion. 

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Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence does not accept unsolicited candidates, CVs, or resumes from agencies or third parties. All candidate profiles must be submitted through our SuccessFactors system and approved in advance by the Global Talent Acquisition team. Any CVs/resumes sent outside this process will be considered the property of Hexagon, and no placement fees will be paid.

Hexagon posts all official job opportunities on either careers-manufacturing.hexagon.com or careers.hexagon.com and communicates only from email addresses ending in @hexagon.com. We never request payment or personal banking information during recruitment. No offers will ever be extended without a proper interview via Teams or in person, never done over email alone. If you suspect fraud, it probably is, and contact us at recruitment.us.mi@hexagon.com.

Information at a Glance
Division:  Business Area MI Management Services
Job Title:  R&D Optical Engineer
Job Function:  Research & Development
Job Location (Short):  USA,
Workplace Type:  Onsite
Workplace Details:  Skaneateles, US
Req ID:  3253

About Hexagon

Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We put data to work to drive efficiency, productivity and quality across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public safety and mobility applications. Our solutions enable customers to capture, analyze and leverage data from the physical world to create smarter, more connected and increasingly autonomous ecosystems that support a scalable and sustainable future. Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence business area delivers solutions that leverage data from design and engineering through production and metrology to help manufacturers make smarter, data-driven decisions and improve performance across the product lifecycle.