Optical Development Engineer - Interior Lighting (F/M) - Marquardt

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Optical Development Engineer to join our R&D team in Sibiu, specializing in automotive interior lighting systems. You will own the full development lifecycle of optical features -- from requirements and simulation through to series production -- and act as the technical reference for optics simulation colleagues across multiple locations.

This is a hands-on engineering role with a coordination dimension. You will work closely with optical specialists, project managers, customers, and suppliers, and contribute to shaping product and technology strategy for our lighting portfolio.

What You Will Do

Technical ownership

• Lead system development of mechatronic components with focus on optical design, simulation, and test

• Define system architecture for complex interior illumination systems

• Own optical features and functionalities from requirements to SOP

• Perform and evaluate optical simulations; translate results into design improvements

• Drive technology innovation and continuous product optimization

• Benchmark existing products and define component strategies; identify gaps and close them

• Review technical concepts across projects and ensure best practices are applied

Coordination & collaboration

• Provide technical direction for optics simulation colleagues distributed across multiple sites

• Collaborate with optical specialists, line managers, project managers, customers, and suppliers

• Support R&D and sales teams during pre-acquisition and quoting phases

• Define and monitor processes and component strategies within cross-functional teams

What We Are Looking For

Must have

• University degree in Engineering Physics, Physics, Mechatronics, Electromechanics, or Mechanical Engineering

• 5+ years of R&D experience in optical systems or mechatronic systems

• Solid theoretical optics foundation: geometric optics, photometry, radiometry, light propagation

• Practical knowledge of LEDs and solid-state lighting (flux, CCT, thermal behavior, binning)

• Hands-on experience with an optical ray-tracing simulation tool

• Basic proficiency in a CAD system (NX or CATIA preferred)

• Understanding of plastic material properties relevant to optical component design

• Experience taking a product or feature from requirements through design, validation, and series production

• Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders

• English -- fluent/proficient (mandatory working language)

Nice to have

• German at working level -- direct advantage for customer and supplier interaction

• Background in automotive exterior lighting as adjacent domain

• DfM experience for injection-molded optical components

• Experience in a global or multi-site R&D environment

What Makes You a Great Fit

• You are structured and methodical -- you manage complexity without losing sight of the details

• You are assertive -- you defend technical positions under pressure and communicate clearly at all levels

• You have a high sense of responsibility -- you follow through without being chased

• You are a team player -- you share knowledge, coordinate across functions, and support colleagues

• You are curious and innovation-driven -- you look for optimization opportunities proactively

Why Join Us

• Work on cutting-edge automotive interior lighting technologies in a global R&D environment

• Act as a technical expert and shape product strategy -- not just execute it

• Collaborate with international teams and customer-facing projects