The Materials Engineer, Optical Substrate joins the team to develop, qualify, and scale optical materials, waveguide processes, and measurement methodologies for next-generation augmented reality devices. This role involves leading material qualification across polymers, glass, lithium niobate, and silicon carbide while defining test plans and acceptance criteria. Day-to-day responsibilities include performing optical measurements like transmission, reflectance, and haze, executing experiments to correlate simulations with physical performance, and refining fabrication processes such as nanoimprinting and thin-film coating. The engineer will also develop reliability test strategies for mechanical and thermal stability and collaborate with suppliers on technical specifications. Required skills include expertise in nanophotonics, optics, and waveguide physics, alongside proficiency in Python, MATLAB, and Finite Element Analysis for modeling stress and deformation in advanced optical components.
Lead material and substrate qualification for polymers, glass, lithium niobate, and silicon carbide.
Define sample requirements, test plans, acceptance criteria, and data packages for technical initiatives.
Perform and interpret optical measurements including transmission, reflectance, refractive index, and scattering.
Establish measurement methods for surface roughness, flatness, and wafer-level optical characterization.
Execute experiments to correlate optical simulations with measured performance and identify discrepancies.
Develop fabrication processes including nanoimprinting, thin-film coating, laser cutting, and waveguide stacking.
Develop reliability and mechanical test strategies for flexural strength, thermal exposure, and UV weathering.
Translate optical requirements into supplier-ready drawings, wafer layouts, and technical specifications.
What we're looking for
PhD in Physics, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or 7+ years of relevant industry experience.
Hands-on experience with optical experimentation, materials characterization, photonic device development, or a related laboratory discipline.
Experience analyzing complex experimental data and delivering technical recommendations.
Ability to create structured test plans, document procedures, and maintain traceable experimental records.
Comfort working hands-on with laboratory equipment and technical test samples.
Strong core fundamentals in optics, nanophotonics, mechanics, waveguide physics, or optical materials.
Experience with waveguide optics, diffractive optics, AR/VR displays, grating couplers, or nanophotonic devices (preferred).
Experience with optical modeling, RCWA simulations, ray tracing, or correlation of simulations to physical measurements (preferred).
Optical Engineering
Photonics
Python
MATLAB
Signal Processing
Optical Alignment
Imaging Systems
Data Analysis
Laboratory Automation
Optical System Modeling
Detector Assemblies
ISO 9000
Excel
Word
PowerPoint