Physics, Simulation & Hard Problem Solving

Location: Rotterdam, NL Commitment: Full time Experience: 5+ years

The Mission

At AddOptics, we develop next-generation ophthalmic and vision solutions. We're a small, fast-moving tech team where every person owns their domain. We're looking for an Optical Systems Engineer who thrives on solving the hard problems — someone who can model a lens stack from first principles, run the simulations, and give the rest of the team a clear answer when the physics gets complicated.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Building and running optical simulations of complex lens stacks — multiple surfaces, curvatures, air gaps, materials — and knowing what the output actually means

• Digging into the hard physics questions that don't have an obvious answer: aberration behaviour, wavefront error, tolerance sensitivity, edge cases

• Developing simulation frameworks and scripts that let the team interrogate optical performance quickly and reliably

• Challenging and validating design assumptions — if the numbers don't add up, you find out why

• Learning the ophthalmic domain (Rx language, dioptric power, prescription-to-optics translation) and becoming the person who bridges that gap internally

• Working directly with engineers on live customer projects as the go-to source of optical truth

What We’re Looking For

• A strong foundation in physics — you understand what's happening at the wavefront, not just what the software puts out

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in optical design and simulation

• Proficiency in OpticStudio (Zemax), CODE V, or equivalent optical design tools

• Comfort with scripting or coding to automate or extend simulations (Python, MATLAB)

• Experience designing optical systems with multiple refractive elements, curvatures, and air gaps

• Familiarity with ophthalmic optics or a genuine appetite to learn the domain fast

• The ability to communicate clearly with non-optical engineers — you can explain what the simulation is telling you without losing the room

• A degree in Applied Physics, Photonics, or Optical Engineering

The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here

You're comfortable being the only optical expert in the room. You don't wait for someone to tell you what to investigate — you follow the physics. You care about the end product, not just the elegance of the model. And when an engineer on a customer project needs an answer, you provide one they can act on.

What you’ll get

• A high-ownership, high-impact role in a growing deep tech company

• The chance to shape how optical design is done at AddOptics — from tooling to process

• Close collaboration with a sharp, cross-functional team that respects domain expertise

• We take the work seriously, and we take the time to celebrate what we achieve together

• Competitive salary and benefits

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