Optical Engineer - LED Architectural Lighting

Job Description

Job Title:

Optical Engineer

Remote with Business Travel

Global Headquarters:
Port Washington, New York

WAC Group has disrupted our industry by challenging conventions and building sustainable products with integrity. With multiple thriving brands, our unparalleled, world-class organization includes WAC Lighting, WAC Home, Modern Forms Luminaires + Smart Fans, Schonbek, dweLED, WAC Landscape, AiSPiRE, VENTRIX, Colorscaping and WAC Limited brands. WAC Group makes significant investments in breakthrough technologies, electronics research and development, and advanced engineering. Through eco-friendly manufacturing and giving back to our local and global communities, we are overcoming challenges with creativity and innovation!

The Optical Engineer will lead end-to-end optical system design, LED Selection and color science development for advanced LED lighting products across downlighting, projection, track, and linear platforms. This role combines deep expertise in photometric analysis, spectral modeling, LED package characterization, optical simulation, and standards compliance. The ideal candidate will be highly skilled in designing optical architectures for COB and discrete LED engines, optimizing beam performance, color quality, efficacy, and ensuring compliance with emerging Dark Sky, WELL standards and other sustainability standards.

This position collaborates closely with product management, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and manufacturing teams to deliver world-class optical and color-rendering performance.

• Lead the design and development of complete optical systems for COB
  , discrete LED
  , and multi-source architectures.
• Create optical solutions for down lights
  , projectors
  , wall washers
  , track heads
  , and linear systems using reflectors, TIR lenses, hybrid optics, mixing chambers, and light guides.
• Perform optical simulations and ray-tracing (e.g.,
  Light Tools, Trace Pro, Zemax, SPEOS
  ) to optimize beam quality, output, UGR, and efficiency.
• Develop beam distributions including spot, narrow, medium, wide, oval, asymmetric, wall-wash, and custom profiles.
• Evaluate and specify secondary optics from global suppliers; interpret intensity distribution, candela plots, IES files, and lens datasheets.

• Conduct in-depth analysis of LED specification and color science including spectral power distribution (SPD),
  wavelength curves
  , CCT
  , CRI/TM-30
  , Duv
  , gamut
  , R9/Rf/Rg
  , and full binning structures.
• Evaluate and compare LED packages from major suppliers (e.g.,
  Cree, Nichia, Citizen, Lumileds, Samsung, Seoul, Luminus, Bridgelux
  ).
• Interpret LED manufacturer data including LM-80
  , IS
  , TM-21/TM-28
  , TM-30
  , thermal derating
  , voltage/current curves
  , and optical efficiency
  .
• Develop color mixing strategies for tunable white and RGB/RGBW systems including chromaticity stability, thermal droop compensation, and spectral optimization.
• Optimize color mixing strategies with optical designs for various products.
• Support calibration, tolerance analysis, and performance modeling for optical and chromatic uniformity.

• Ensure optical and color performance meets or exceeds industry standards including:
• LM-80, LM-79, TM-21, TM-30, TM-20
• Zhaga
  , ANSI
  , IES
  , UL/ETL, cUL, CCC, TISI, etc.
• WELL Building standards, Dark Sky / IDA compliance, Turtle Friendly applications (uplight control, CCT limits, spectral considerations)
• Apply eco-design principles related to efficacy, energy use, material choices
  , and emerging sustainability requirements.

• Lead photometric validation, lab testing, and prototype evaluation to verify distribution, color consistency, and system efficacy.
• Working with the test team in our China factory, interpret data from goniophotometers, integrating spheres, and spectrometers.
• Support thermal-optical trade-off analysis and long-term lumen maintenance modeling.

• Working closely with multiple development teams, Global R&D (primary function), Functional R&D, Modern Forms R&D, Schonbek R&D, to support incoming projects, support and recommendations, evaluations and feedback etc.
• Work closely with product managers to convert market/architectural needs into optical requirements.
• Partner with mechanical engineers to integrate optics into housings, heatsinks, trims, and glare-control systems.
• Provide technical guidance to NPI, quality, and manufacturing teams for LED selection, optics sourcing, and supplier qualification.
• Create clear, concise documentation including optical specifications, tolerances, and test reports.

• Support a multi-year global product roadmap aligned with commercial growth objectives.
• Support high-quality product specifications, business cases, and PRDs (Product Requirement Documents).
• Support comprehensive competitive analysis, positioning frameworks, and training deliverables.
• Regular performance analysis…