Illumination Engineer

SYSTRA•Toronto, ON

52d

About The Position

SYSTRA Canada is seeking a skilled and motivated Intermediate Electrical & Illumination Engineer to support the design, development, analysis, and validation of street lighting systems. This role is central to delivering efficient, durable, and regulation-compliant outdoor lighting solutions that meet photometric performance, electrical safety, energy efficiency, and public safety requirements. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience in roadway lighting design, LED driver integration, optical simulation, and cross-functional collaboration within a product development environment. Familiarity with smart lighting technologies (NLC) and a commitment to sustainable, dark-sky-friendly design practices are strong assets in this role.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Optical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
3‒5 years of experience in illumination engineering, electrical design for lighting, or luminaire product development.
Strong understanding of photometric principles: illuminance, luminance, uniformity, BUG ratings (IES TM-15), glare, and light distribution patterns.
Strong understanding of LED driver technologies, power electronics, and electrical safety principles for outdoor luminaires.
Proficiency with optical design and simulation tools such as AGi32, DIALux, LightTools, LucidShape, Zemax, LightStanza, Radiance, ElumTools, or IES VE.
Familiarity with LED-based luminaire design, optical component integration, and thermal management considerations.
Knowledge of photometric testing methods and interpretation of IES photometric files (.ies/.ldt).
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and perform basic circuit analysis.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills.
Familiarity with electrical safety and EMC standards (UL, CSA, IEC, FCC).
Knowledge of lighting control protocols (0-10V, DALI, PWM) and basic communication networks for smart lighting.

Nice To Haves

LC (Lighting Certified) designation from the NCQLP (National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions), or active pursuit of this certification.
Experience designing products for municipal, roadway, highway, pedestrian, parking, or other outdoor public lighting applications.
Solid knowledge of applicable standards: ANSI/IES RP-8, IES TM-15, CIE 115, IEC 60598, UL 1598, UL 8750, and local roadway or municipal lighting requirements.
Understanding of dark-sky compliance, glare reduction, and light pollution mitigation strategies in accordance with IDA/DarkSky International approval criteria.
Experience with smart lighting controls and networked systems, including familiarity with protocols such as DALI-2, Zhaga D4i, 0-10V, PWM, or similar networked lighting control (NLC) platforms.
Knowledge of ingress protection (IP ratings), impact resistance (IK ratings), NEMA enclosure standards, and corrosion resistance for outdoor luminaires.
Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, or AutoCAD (AutoCAD Electrical).
Experience designing or integrating LED drivers, surge protection, and power quality solutions for outdoor applications.
Familiarity with EMC/EMI testing and mitigation strategies for LED power supplies.
Understanding of thermal management and its impact on both LED performance and electrical component lifespan.
Experience supporting products from concept development through electrical safety certification and production launch.

Responsibilities

Design and develop street lighting and outdoor area lighting systems for municipal, commercial, and infrastructure applications.
Create and optimize optical solutions - LEDs, lenses, reflectors, diffusers, and light distribution systems - to meet roadway lighting performance targets.
Perform photometric analysis and optical simulations to evaluate illuminance, luminance, uniformity, glare control, light trespass, and system efficiency.
Specify, integrate, and validate LED drivers, power supplies, and surge protection devices to ensure electrical efficiency, reliability, and grid compatibility.
Develop luminaire concepts that balance optical performance, electrical safety, thermal management, environmental durability, cost, and manufacturability.
Collaborate with mechanical, optical, thermal, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure successful integration of electrical and lighting components throughout the product lifecycle.
Support the design of luminaires for compliance with applicable street and roadway lighting standards, including ANSI/IES RP-8, IES TM-15 (BUG ratings), IDA/DarkSky International approval criteria, and relevant customer specifications.
Ensure electrical safety and performance compliance with UL 1598, UL 8750 (LED Power Supplies), IEC 60598, and basic EMC/EMI requirements.
Conduct design verification activities including photometric testing, electrical safety testing (hi-pot, ground continuity, surge), optical validation, and field evaluations.
Analyze lab and field test results and recommend design improvements.
Investigate issues related to glare, LED driver failures, electrical noise, optical losses, and environmental impact on performance.
Active participation in design reviews, DFMEA, tolerance analysis, root cause analysis, and product risk assessments.
Prepare and maintain technical documentation including electrical schematics, design specifications, simulation reports, validation reports, compliance documentation, and engineering change records (ECRs).
Support supplier evaluations for LEDs, optical materials, LED drivers, control nodes, housings, and related street lighting components, contributing to product improvements that support dark-sky considerations, sustainability goals, and reduced maintenance requirements.