Apple

Summary

Posted: Jul 10, 2025

Role Number:200612563

Are you seeking to push the boundaries of what’s considered feasible? We’re looking for a world-class optical simulation engineer to join our engineering team and make a significant impact on the future of Apple! By collaborating with a diverse engineering team, including other optical engineers, human perception experts, product design engineers, and experimental physicists, you’ll revolutionize the industry’s understanding of optical devices and enhance the product experience for our global customers. In this role, you’ll be a driving force behind designing innovative architectures for Apple Vision displays. This position focuses on optical simulation to drive understanding, predict performance, and set specifications of complex near-to-eye devices. You’ll work to develop test methods for model validation, define perceptual metrics to accurately capture human experience, and help drive product development from the conceptual phase to mass production. Together, we’ll create a magical experience that redefines what millions of customers can expect from Apple Vision products. Bring passion and dedication to your work, and there’s no telling what you could accomplish.

Description

• Leverage existing commercial and in-house simulation tools and develop new modeling techniques to predict end-to-end performance and unwanted artifacts of complex, next-gen, near-to-eye imaging and illumination display optics - Develop performance figures of merit in conjunction with key product stakeholders and human perception experts to assess and compare design variants and budget for different use cases, manufacturing defects, and environmental impacts - Support simulation validation through definition of optical metrology, sample characterization, and model fitting approaches - Effectively communicate the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of the device in technical one-on-ones, small group meetings, and presentation to technical leaders - Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including display pipeline, optical design, and process engineers, to develop and implement optical engineering solutions that meet project requirements and schedules

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Physics, Optical engineering, or Electrical engineering and 3 years of industry experience or equivalent
• Experience in sequential and/or non-sequential rays trace tools (e.g., Zemax, LightTools) for design, analysis, optimization, and tolerancing of optical systems
• Experience in one or more scientific computing languages (e.g., Python, C/C#, Matlab, etc.) for optical simulation, custom analysis scripting, and data post-processing and visualization

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Optical engineering, Electrical engineering or equivalent
• Strong working knowledge of refractive and diffractive optical design and pertinent optical simulation approaches including ray tracing, Fourier beam propagation, RCWA, FDTD, Mueller calculus, etc.
• Experience with near-to-eye display technologies and perceptual metrics for human vision
• Experience with model validation and improvement based on laboratory experimental results
• Experience in mass production of consumer optical devices

Pay & Benefits

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $147,400 and $272,100, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits.

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.