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

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 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