Optical Software Engineer

Cupertino Until 9/27/2026 10+ years exp First posted July 29, 2026 Last posted July 29, 2026
Job description

Apple is where individual imaginations gather together, committing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or Apple Store experience we deliver is the result of us making each other’s ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It’s the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you’ll do more than join something — you’ll add something.

Description

The Optical Engineering team within Camera Core Technology Engineering is seeking a Simulation Development Engineer who will play a critical role in new optical design throughout the development cycle. This engineer will develop state-of-the-art end-to-end modeling and simulation solutions with cross-functional team members for our Optical Imaging Systems that can facilitate provide early feedback to Apple product design and enable novel simulation pipelines for future technologies. This engineer will also be responsible for validation, application, and scale up of the simulation tools. The ideal candidate is someone that is always striving to learn something new, is a self-starter and can work autonomously with high levels of success, is excited about solving new challenging problems with innovative solutions, has experience presenting ideas and building consensus with teammates, and thrives in an environment of smart people and loves to challenge the status quo. Come join us!

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Optics, Imaging Science, Physics, EE, CS, ME, or relevant field of study.
Programming experience (Python, Matlab, and/or C/C++/C#).
Experience modeling and simulating optical systems using Zemax, Code V, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

MS or PhD in Optical Sciences, Imaging Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
10+ years of relevant industry experience developing software for optical, imaging, or photonics systems
Proficiency in software engineering best practices: version control (Git), unit testing, CI/CD, release distribution and documentation
Familiarity with imaging system performance metrics such as PSF, MTF, wavefront error, and optical aberrations
Experience deploying simulation or modeling workloads on cloud or HPC platforms (AWS, GCP, or equivalent)
Ability to present technical findings and simulation results to cross-functional hardware and product teams
Familiarity with Zemax OpticStudio, CODE V, or similar tools; experience scripting or extending these platforms programmatically is a plus

About this role

Summary

Develop and validate optical simulation tools for Apple products, collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Job title

Optical Software Engineer

Experience level

10+ years

Minimum experience

10+ years exp

Industry

technology

Location requirements

Must be in Cupertino or willing to relocate; hybrid work allowed.

Salary

Not specified

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

PythonMatlabC/C++/C#modelingsimulationZemaxCode V

Preferred skills

MS or PhD in relevant fieldsoftware engineering best practicescloud or HPC deploymentperformance metricsZemax OpticStudioCODE V

Specializations

optical systemssimulationimagingphotonic systems
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

Cupertino, CA, USA

Hybrid City