Acuity Inc. is a market-leading industrial technology company focused on innovative lighting solutions. The Illumination Engineer Lead will contribute to the Nexus team by developing early-stage illumination concepts, conducting optical system design, and performing photometric analysis to create differentiated lighting solutions.
Responsibilities
- Collaboratively generate ideas for new products and develop those ideas into product concepts
- Translate customer needs, application requirements, and business objectives into illumination concepts and system-level performance targets
- Perform competitive analysis and market research to set project objectives and performance criteria
- Develop optical designs using ray trace and simulation tools to evaluate and refine light distribution, efficiency, glare, uniformity, and visual comfort
- Design optical architectures including lenses, reflectors, diffusers, and mixed systems
- Perform photometric calculations to quantify and set luminaire performance targets and application outcomes
- Interpret key metrics such as intensity, illuminance, luminance, uniformity, efficacy, and glare
- Develop, build, and evaluate proof of concept prototypes and mockups using lab measurements and group visual review of subjective criteria
- Correlate simulation results with measured performance
- Plan and execute experiments to explore materials, architectures, and system behaviors
- Use data to guide concept evolution and optimization
- Participate in ideation sessions and innovation events
- Generate novel approaches to light delivery, visual experience, and system integration
- Monitor emerging optical technologies, research, standards, and competitors
- Identify opportunities for new illumination approaches
- Work with mechanical, electrical, controls, industrial design, manufacturing, sourcing, and product teams
- Balance performance, cost, manufacturability, and user experience
- Develop clear presentations of optical concepts, simulations, test results, and tradeoffs
- Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders how design decisions impact user experience and the lighting application
- Document innovations and support patent development efforts
- Provide optical expertise across projects, including reviews, benchmarking, application and product performance analysis
Skills
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Optical Engineering, Illumination Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- Entry Level: 0–3 years in illumination engineering, optics, or related fields
- Senior Level: ~5–10 years of relevant experience with demonstrated ownership of optical design and analysis
- Lead Level: 10+ years with experience leading complex optical development and influencing product direction
- Experience with optical simulation tools (e.g., Photopia, LightTools, or equivalent)
- Experience with CAD and photometric tools (e.g., Visual, AGI32, Dialux, Rhino, Grasshopper, SolidWorks, or equivalents)
- Knowledge of photometric analysis and lighting performance metrics
- Experience with prototype development and validation
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to collaborate across disciplines
- Clear communication of complex technical concepts
- Familiarity with lighting standards and measurement practices
- Experience with IP or patent processes
Benefits
- Health care
- Dental coverage
- Vision plans
- 401K benefits
- Commissions/incentive compensation depending on the role
Company Overview
WhiteOptics™ develops and manufactures the patent-pending WhiteOptics™ Reflector based on a highly reflective plastic substrate. It was founded in 2009, and is headquartered in Conyers, Georgia, USA, with a workforce of 11-50 employees. Its website is https://www.whiteoptics.com.