Optical System Integration Engineer

company

About Lyte

Lyte builds perception systems for Physical AI operating in complex environments. The company combines custom silicon, integrated sensors, and software into a unified platform for robotics, mobility, and next-generation automation. Lyte is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with a global presence. For more information, visit www.lyte.ai

If you’re excited about building impactful technology in a dynamic, hands-on environment, we’d love to hear from you!

role

About the role

- We are seeking a motivated and hands-on Optical System Integration Engineer to join our System Optics Team. The team is responsible for integrating and validating optical subsystems and ensuring product performance from an optical standpoint.   This is a hands-on engineering role intended for a recent graduate, or early-career engineer with strong fundamentals in optics and an interest in building, testing, and debugging real optical systems.

What you'll do

- Build, align, and characterize optical laboratory setups and optical subsystems.

- Support testing and validation of optical components and subsystems, including lenses, windows, mirrors, lasers, detectors, and related opto-mechanical assemblies.

- Perform optical alignment tasks including free-space alignment, beam collimation, focusing, and optimization of optical paths.

- Execute optical characterization and system-level test procedures and analyze the resulting data.

- Develop Python scripts for instrument control, test automation, data processing, visualization, and analysis.

- Assist with development and validation new sensor prototyping and manufacturing processes.

- Support optical subsystem bring-up, integration, validation, and troubleshooting.

- Investigate unexpected system behavior using experimental data and fundamental engineering principles.

- Perform measurements and characterization of optical performance, including beam profile, M², wavefront error (WFE), and other relevant optical metrics.

- Work with cross-functional engineering teams, including electrical, firmware, DSP, software, and mechanical engineering.

- Document experimental setups, procedures, results, and conclusions clearly.

- Participate in failure analysis and root-cause investigations with experienced engineers.

- Propose improvements to optical setups, test methods, automation, and measurement techniques.

Required Qualifications

- A B.S. or M.S. in Optical/Photonics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a related engineering field.

- Strong understanding of optical fundamentals, including geometric optics, lenses, imaging, Gaussian beams, diffraction, and basic physical optics.

- Demonstrated hands-on technical aptitude through laboratory coursework, research, internships, engineering projects, or previous employment.

- Comfortable working with physical hardware and performing iterative setup, measurement, alignment, and debugging.

- Experience with or strong interest in:   Free-space optical alignment ; Lenses and opto-mechanical components ; Laser alignment and beam collimation ; Photodetectors and optical power measurements ; Optical and electrical laboratory instrumentation ; Optical systems in sensing applications

- Working knowledge of Python, particularly for scientific computing, data analysis, or laboratory automation.

- Ability to analyze experimental data, identify trends or anomalies, and develop hypotheses based on measurement results.

- Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to learn unfamiliar systems and measurement techniques.

- Ability to communicate technical observations and results clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

- Python libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, pandas, and Matplotlib.

- Automated test equipment and instrument communication/control.

- Passive or active integrated photonics testing.

- Basic analog/digital electronics and ability to interpret circuit schematics or system block diagrams.

- Optical simulation or design tools such as Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, or similar software.

- FPGA or SoC-based hardware platforms.

Benefits (subject to location and local regulations)

- Competitive salary and equity
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Flexible vacation and time-off policy
- Collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive work environment
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with a highly cross-functional team