Illumination Engineer Lead

Job Summary

The Illumination Engineer is a core contributor to the Nexus team, Acuity Brands’ lighting innovation group. This role focuses on early-stage illumination concepts, optical system design, and photometric analysis to translate customer problems and emerging trends into differentiated lighting solutions.

Operating at the front end of the product lifecycle, the role emphasizes optical exploration, performance discovery, and concept validation. The position collaborates closely with mechanical, electrical, industrial design, and product teams to shape concepts that can progress toward commercialization.

Open to considering candidates at the following skill levels:

• Entry Level: Contributes to optical design, simulation, and analysis under guidance; develops foundational skills and supports concept development.
• Senior Level: Independently drives optical concepts and analysis; owns key portions of projects and influences design direction.
• Lead Level: Sets optical strategy, leads complex concept development, and influences long-term innovation direction across programs.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

Invent Early-Stage Illumination Concepts

• 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

Optical Design & Simulation

• 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.

Photometric Calculation & Analysis

• 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.

Prototype, Test, and Validate Concepts

• 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.

Conduct Experiments & Design of Experiments (DoE)

• Plan and execute experiments to explore materials, architectures, and system behaviors.
• Use data to guide concept evolution and optimization.

Lead or Contribute to Innovation Activities

• Participate in ideation sessions and innovation events.
• Generate novel approaches to light delivery, visual experience, and system integration.

Research Technologies & Industry Trends

• Monitor emerging optical technologies, research, standards, and competitors.
• Identify opportunities for new illumination approaches.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with mechanical, electrical, controls, industrial design, manufacturing, sourcing, and product teams.
• Balance performance, cost, manufacturability, and user experience.

Communicate Concepts and Tradeoffs

• 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.

Support Intellectual Property Development

• Document innovations and support patent development efforts.

Support Broader Product Development Efforts

• Provide optical expertise across projects, including reviews, benchmarking, application and product performance analysis.

Skills and Minimum Experience Required

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Illumination Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Experience (by level)

• 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

Technical Skills

• 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

Additional Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines
• Clear communication of complex technical concepts
• Familiarity with lighting standards and measurement practices (preferred)
• Experience with IP or patent processes (preferred)