Optical Design Engineer

Texas Instruments • Dallas, TX

2d

About The Position

The Optical Design Engineer is responsible for the overall optical system in DLP devices, evaluation modules, and systems. The role spans hardware and software and involves working with customers and suppliers to ensure DLP devices perform optimally in their systems. It includes selecting and qualifying active and passive optical components, developing benchmarking systems and performance models, and implementing test procedures usable across devices and platforms.

The position supports Texas Instruments’ DLP Industrial Light Control business, whose applications include 3D printing, maskless lithography, machine vision, structured-light 3D scanning, spectroscopy, and optical networking. The engineer will design optical systems for DLP-based industrial platforms, create reference designs to support customer adoption, and provide technical expertise throughout the product lifecycle. The role also combines optical engineering with market insight and business development: identifying technology trends and product gaps and collaborating across engineering, marketing, and product teams on plans to address them. Projects have direct revenue impact and involve leading system manufacturers worldwide.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Optics/Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, ECE, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of relevant engineering experience or research in optical system design or applied optics.
• Worldwide travel capability.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with optical design software such as Ansys Zemax OpticStudio, CODE V, FRED, LightTools, Lumerical, or equivalent.
• Hands-on experience designing and characterizing illumination or projection optical systems.
• Familiarity with digital micromirror (DMD), spatial light modulator (SLM), or phase light modulator (PLM) optical architecture and system integration.
• Knowledge of diffraction optics, wavefront analysis, or colorimetry.
• Experience with optical metrology and laboratory measurement techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in teams and collaborate effectively with people in different functions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to take initiative and drive for results.
• Strong time management skills that enable on-time project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize illumination and projection optical systems for DLP-based industrial applications, including maskless lithography, resin 3D printing, machine vision, structured-light 3D scanning, spectroscopy, and optical networking.
• Develop and maintain optical system simulation models using tools such as Zemax/OpticStudio and/or FRED to evaluate performance, stray light, tolerance, diffraction efficiency, and optical throughput.
• Create reference optical designs, design guidelines, and application notes to help customers accelerate system development and reduce time to market.
• Provide direct technical support to customers on optical system integration, including reviewing customer optical designs, troubleshooting hardware in the laboratory, and resolving field application issues.
• Collaborate with DMD product and applications teams to define optical requirements for new device generations, evaluate prototype DMDs, and support product characterization through ramp.
• Build and operate optical test benches to measure and characterize DMD optical performance, illumination uniformity, wavefront, diffraction patterns, and colorimetry.
• Support diffraction modeling, colorimetry analysis, and computer-generated hologram (CGH) development for new product and application development.
• Identify technology trends, map them to product gaps, and collaborate with engineering, marketing, and product teams to develop plans that address them.
• Support technical and business development for DLP Industrial markets.

What This Job Offers

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