Raju Sama
Galway
Summary
Optical Engineer with a Master's in Optics and Photonics and 10+ years of experience in Aerospace, Defense, and ophthalmology. Specialized in designing and developing advanced optical systems for space, defense, and medical applications. Skilled in optical simulation, tolerance and STOP analysis, system optimization, and prototyping. Proficient in reflective and refractive system design, stray light analysis, specification definition, and cross-functional collaboration. Experienced in optical manufacturing, integration, and testing.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Optical Design Engineer
Mbryonics Ltd
Galway, Ireland
03.2026 - Current
- Responsible for the design and optimisation of Free Space Optical (FSO) communication systems for inter-satellite links (ISL) and Earth-space optical links, including telescope design (Tx/Rx), beam shaping optics, and using Zemax OpticStudio.
- Performed optical tolerancing analysis using Monte Carlo simulations, sensitivity analysis, and error budgeting to ensure compliance with system-level performance requirements.
- Implemented athermalisation techniques (passive thermal compensation, material selection, and opto-mechanical design) to mitigate thermally induced aberrations and focus shift in space environments.
- Conducted STOP (Structural-Thermal-Optical Performance) analysis by integrating thermal and structural deformation data into optical models to evaluate WFE, MTF, and line-of-sight stability by using SigFit and Zemax STAR .
- Developed and validated optical link budgets for FSO systems, including beam divergence, pointing error, jitter, coupling efficiency, SNR, and link margin analysis.
- Supported optical system integration, alignment, and verification, including alignment tolerances, optical testing (MTF, WFE), and performance validation.
- Collaborated with cross-functional engineering teams (systems engineering, mechanical, thermal, and electronics) for end-to-end system design, optimisation, and validation.
SENIOR OPTICS DESIGN ENGINEER (Contract)
In-Vision Technologies AG
Vienna, Austria
05.2025 - 01.2026
- Designed a high-NA, compact 5× AOI objective lens for PCB inspection.
- Led the design of a UV projection lens for 3D printing and microlithography, with emphasis on sub-365 nm performance and chromatic correction.
- Developed laser-based illumination optics with high uniformity and low aberrations using Zemax OpticStudio.
- Supported prototyping, test planning, and alignment using interferometric and imaging-based validation.
- Prepared optical specifications, tolerance analyses, and verification reports in compliance with ISO/DIN standards.
SENIOR OPTICS ENGINEER
Digantara Research and Technologies Pvt Ltd
Bangalore, India
03.2024 - 04.2025
- Responsible for developing requirements and optical design for both space-based and ground-based telescopes using modelling and trade studies for Space Situational Awareness (SSA), aiding in space traffic control, and stray light analysis.
- Designed and analyzed the optics and optical materials for 350 mm and 1.5 m aperture ground-based telescopes using Zemax and CODE V.
- I have successfully led complex projects, including the design and optimization of high-performance optical systems such as diffraction-limited telescopes with wide-field-of-view lens systems for Space Situational Awareness (SSA), star tracking, space LiDARs, high-resolution multispectral EO payloads, and multispectral imagers for SSA applications.
- Established the setup for assembly, integration, testing (AIT), and optical manufacturing processes of these telescopes post-fabrication, including optomechanical design and optical system integration.
- Collaborated with optics manufacturers to refine measurement and compensation methods, design and produce telescopes that meet the highest quality standards, showcasing collaboration skills, and guiding qualification processes of optical components.
- Designed and configured a Laser Scanning Microscopy system and a Lateral Shear/Sagnac Interferometer in Zemax for advanced microscopy applications.
- Developed a method to calculate the lifetime and design radiation shielding for electro-optical (EO) payloads in space radiation environments, specifically tailored for systems utilising commercial optical glasses.
SENIOR OPTICAL ENGINEER
Bharat Electronics Limited
Machilipatnam, India
10.2016 - 02.2024
- Performed optical design and analysis, stray light analysis, integration, and testing of electro-optical systems for diverse applications, including mechanically compensated zoom lenses, multi-band shared aperture telescopes, SWIR spectrometer, optical modules for Laser range finders (LRF), and multi-field-of-view systems.
- Conducted Range modeling with NVIPM software for detecting, recognizing, and identifying targets, meeting customer requirements.
- Used Zemax & CODE V for design, optimization, tolerance analysis, and tolerancing of indigenous optical modules.
- Provided optical characterization and testing equipment for component and system level testing and evaluation.
- Conducted high precise optical alignment and various optical measurements.
- Analyzed lens prescriptions, defined optical specifications, and guided vendors to meet optical manufacturing processes and tolerancing specifications.
- Accountable for creating and disseminating optical element drawings.
- Collaborated with mechanical engineers to develop Opto-mechanical designs and conducted trades studies to inform design selection.
- Conducted infrared detectors calibration, light field/wave optics simulations with MATLAB, tested PCBs, analyzed schematics and pin diagrams, and conducted harness/cable testing.
- Conducted comprehensive root cause analyses for a range of MTF issues.
- Collaborated with customer agencies to finalize Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP), conduct quality testing, and review documentation.
- Contributed to the quality testing of surveillance equipment, tank targeting sights, and weapon sights.
OPTICAL ENGINEER
Aurolab
Madurai, India
07.2015 - 10.2016
- Performed optical system design, development, and analysis of various intraocular lenses (IOLs), defining optical specifications and requirements.
- Utilized Zemax for optical design, optimization, tolerance analysis and stray light analysis of PMMA based lenses for non-contact fundus examination.
- Measured power variation, form error, and surface irregularity of optical components using Trioptics interferometer, shear interferometer and Taylor Hobson interferometer.
PROJECT ASSISTANT
Research Centre Imarat (RCI) DRDO lab
Hyderabad, India
12.2014 - 05.2015
- Experimental setup was made for measurement of the reflectivity of high reflectivity laser grade mirrors by using cavity ring down spectroscopy technique.
- Measured the reflectivity of sample mirrors to an accuracy of 0.001%.
Education
Master of Science - Photonics
National Institute of Technology (NIT)
Warangal, India05.2015
Bachelor of Science - Physics
Kakatiya University
Warangal, India04.2012
Skills
- Optical system design
- Optical systems' requirements
- Tolerance analysis
- Athermalization
- Narcissus analysis
- Stray light analysis
- Cam design
- Zoom lens design
- Lens drawing
- Alignment and Testing
- Development of optical test bench
- Opto-mechanical simulation
- Modelling of UV/Visible/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR optical systems
- imaging optical systems applicable to machine vision
- Lithography,Illumination
- Structural-Thermal-Optical Performance (STOP) analysis
- Electro-optical payloads
- Technical project planning
- Optical instrument alignment calibration
Projects
- Design and developed 5X Magnification, high NA(0.35) compact optical system for PCB inspection.
- Design and Development of High performance wide FOV, lower f#, Compact lens systems, Lidars and Telescopes for SSA & Star tracker.
- Electro optical payloads for both Aircrafts, Tanks and Surveillance.
- Intraocular lens & Ophthalmic instruments.
Software Skills
- Advanced: Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, Opticsbuilder, Microsoft Office
Basic: Speos, Creo Parametric, Sigfit, Python
Languages
English
Advanced
C1
Hindi
Proficient
C2
Telugu
Proficient
C2
German
Beginner
A1
Awards
Inspire Fellowship for the academic year 2012-2015 by Department of Science and Technology, India, for an outstanding post graduate student in science and technology.
Hobbies and Interests
- Watching Movies
- Playing Chess
Timeline
Optical Design Engineer
Mbryonics Ltd
03.2026 - Current
SENIOR OPTICS DESIGN ENGINEER (Contract)
In-Vision Technologies AG
05.2025 - 01.2026
SENIOR OPTICS ENGINEER
Digantara Research and Technologies Pvt Ltd
03.2024 - 04.2025
SENIOR OPTICAL ENGINEER
Bharat Electronics Limited
10.2016 - 02.2024
OPTICAL ENGINEER
Aurolab
07.2015 - 10.2016
PROJECT ASSISTANT
Research Centre Imarat (RCI) DRDO lab
12.2014 - 05.2015
Master of Science - Photonics
National Institute of Technology (NIT)
Bachelor of Science - Physics
Kakatiya University