Virtual product development (VPD) is essentially based on simulation. Due to computational inefficiency, traditional engineering simulation software and optimization methods are inadequate to analyze optimization problems in VPD. Optimization method based on simulation metamodel for virtual product development is proposed to satisfy the needs of complex optimal designs driven by VPD. This method extends the current design of experiments (DOE) by various metamodeling technologies. Simulation metamodels are built to approximate detailed simulation codes, so as to provide link between optimization and simulation, or serve as a bridge for simulation software integration among different domains. An example of optimal design for composite material structure is used to demonstrate the newly introduced method.