Optical Process & Manufacturing Engineer - Lens Technical Lead

As an Optical & Manufacturing Engineer at Reality Labs, you will own the development and productization of precision optical components, including ophthalmic-grade optics, that are core to next-generation AI and AR glasses. You will serve as the single point of accountability for optical components, from concept through prototype and validation to high-volume production ramp, working alongside a team tackling radically new concepts driven by the constraints of advanced AI and AR glasses. You will establish new process and tooling capabilities with supply-chain partners and release product sub-systems that are fully hardened for high-volume manufacturing. We are looking for engineers who work well across disciplines, who move fluidly between big-picture ideas and the critical details that make a technology succeed, and who bring a data-driven track record of taking products from concept to mass production.

Responsibilities

• Own precision optical components from concept through prototype, validation, and high-volume production ramp, as the single point of accountability for the outcome
• Lead external vendor and supply-chain collaborations spanning material selection, tooling, process optimization, metrology, and quality control
• Develop and qualify ophthalmic manufacturing processes and the metrology used to verify optical components, including optical power, surface form, wavefront, and cosmetics
• Define and qualify manufacturing processes and tooling, including precision molds, fixtures, and optical surface generation, to establish new process capability with partners
• Drive mold design and mold flow analysis to optimize tool geometry, gating, and process windows for optical-grade parts
• Develop and qualify high-precision lens cutting processes, including CNC machining, edging, and laser systems at scale
• Troubleshoot optical and mechanical defects and run design of experiments (DOE) for root cause analysis and process improvement
• Develop and integrate novel materials and fabrication processes such as lamination, optical surface generation, coating, casting, and injection molding to enable next-generation optics and displays
• Partner with cross-functional teams to set program priorities and deliver product sub-systems hardened for high-volume manufacturing

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• 6+ years of experience in manufacturing and process development of precision optical components for ophthalmic or consumer electronics
• Experience with metrology of optical components, including optical power, surface form, wavefront, and cosmetic inspection, and with material and mechanical characterization
• Experience with mold design and mold flow analysis
• Experience with mold flow and fluid dynamics simulation software (e.g., Autodesk Moldflow, Moldex3D, or equivalent CFD tools)
• Experience with precision tooling and manufacturing methods such as optical-grade injection molding, casting in high-volume manufacturing

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. In Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience in the optical plastics lens industry
• 8+ years of experience with optical materials and process engineering lens manufacturing
• Experience with sequential ray tracing, optical simulation, and tolerancing using Zemax or Code V
• Experience with DOE design and data analysis for problem solving and root cause analysis
• Experience with emerging or non-traditional manufacturing techniques, processes, and materials such as lamination, optical surface generation, or advanced casting methods
• Experience in owning tooling development and qualification for molds and fixtures, from design through production
• Experience with ophthalmic coating design, process development, and manufacturing
• Experience with high-precision machining and edging tools for lens cutting and engraving
• Experience with optical compliance and product regulations such as FDA, ANSI, or ISO

$144,000/year to $204,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits