Application & Support Engineer, Optical

Phoenix Analysis And Design Technologies • Tempe, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Optical Engineer provides technical expertise, primarily in Ansys optics simulation tools, to support PADT customers and assist PADT’s ANSYS sales team with strategic pre-sales and technical scoping. The role applies engineering knowledge, simulation experience, problem-solving, communication skills, and a willingness to learn.

The position supports customers with software utilization and applicability questions, helps identify and implement workarounds, and maintains accurate customer interaction records using a customer relationship management system. It also contributes to improving customer and internal processes, supports sales opportunities as a technical resource, helps identify simulation opportunities and match solutions to customer needs, and defines customer requirements and workflows.

The engineer creates and presents technical demonstrations, performs benchmarking and gathers performance and accuracy metrics, supports proposal development and sales collateral, presents PADT’s capabilities, and helps build customer relationships. The role also includes educating colleagues, participating in training, creating training materials and delivering classes as needed, and developing technical marketing content such as tutorials, blog posts, and videos.

The role must be performed from PADT’s offices in Tempe, Arizona, or Lakewood, Colorado, and involves occasional travel of approximately 10–15%. Access to U.S. export-controlled information is required; for applicants who are not U.S. persons as defined in the posting, a final offer is contingent on obtaining U.S. Government authorization for access.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least one year of experience with optics and/or photonics simulation tools.
• Experience with Ansys optics simulation tools such as Zemax and/or Speos for optical-device and optical-component design and simulation.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in diverse team environments.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to develop practical engineering solutions for challenging optics and photonics problems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills in English.
• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
• Familiarity with scripting or programming, such as Python or MATLAB, for workflow automation and data processing.
• Availability for occasional travel, approximately 10–15%.
• Must be able to work from PADT’s offices in Tempe, Arizona, or Lakewood, Colorado.
• For applicants who are not protected individuals under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a final offer is contingent on obtaining authorization to access U.S. export-controlled information.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Familiarity with Linux operating systems.
• Laboratory experience with optical characterization, measurement, or alignment.
• Experience with additional Ansys products or multiphysics workflows coupling optics or photonics with thermal, structural, or electrical behavior.
• Familiarity with version control and basic software development or data analysis practices for simulation post-processing.

Responsibilities

• Answer customer questions about software use and applicability, and help identify and implement workarounds for customer problems.
• Maintain accurate records of customer interactions using a Customer Relations Management system.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes for PADT customers and within PADT.
• Support the software sales team as a technical resource throughout the sales process.
• Work virtually and in person with the sales team, prospects, and customers to advance sales opportunities using technical skills and sales knowledge.
• Identify simulation opportunities and help match PADT and ANSYS solutions to customer needs.
• Define customer requirements and help determine customer processes and workflows.
• Create and present technical product demonstrations to customers and prospects.
• Benchmark ANSYS tools and collect performance and accuracy metrics.
• Educate colleagues in areas of expertise and participate in training to develop expertise in other areas.
• Assist in developing formal sales proposals and ensure their technical accuracy.
• Coordinate and deliver sales collateral, including presentations, to customers and prospects.
• Present PADT’s expertise and capabilities and help grow customer and prospect relationships.
• Create training materials and conduct training classes as needed.
• Develop technical marketing material, including tutorials, blog postings, and videos.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level