Senior Optical Scientist

Senior Optical Scientist

** Date:
** Oct 16, 2026

*
* Location:

** Corning, NY, US, 14831

** Company:
** Corning

Requisition Number: 79108

** The company built on breakthroughs.  *
* ** Join us. *
* Corning is one of the world's leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what's possible.

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations - not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company, and the world, forward.  

At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.  

Come break through with us.

Corning's businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. We are changing the world with:

+ Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives

+ Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected

+ Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light

+ Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences

+ Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation

+ Solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules, enabling low-cost solar energy solutions

** Role Purpose*
* The Optical Scientist will support Gorilla Glass Development by developing, operating, and improving optical measurement methods for chemically strengthened glass. As part of the IOX Metrology Group, this role focuses on hands-on experimental work to characterize stress-related optical behavior in glass materials.

The successful candidate will have practical experience in optics laboratory environments, including the design, assembly, alignment, operation, and troubleshooting of optical measurement setups. This role requires a strong understanding of polarization optics, birefringence, retardation, and optical characterization techniques, along with the ability to generate reliable experimental data and communicate findings clearly.

This is a laboratory-focused role well suited to an individual who enjoys building experiments, improving measurement capability, solving instrumentation issues, and partnering with technical teams to support materials and process development.

** Key Responsibilities*
* + Build, align, operate, and maintain experimental optical laboratory setups for characterization of glass materials.

+ Perform optical measurements related to stress, birefringence, retardation, refractive index, and wave guiding behavior in chemically strengthened glass.

+ Support the development and improvement of optical metrology methods used for ion exchange (IOX) process characterization.

+ Apply polarization-based measurement techniques to evaluate transparent materials and identify stress-related optical effects.

+ Prepare samples, conduct experiments, collect data, and ensure measurements are completed safely, accurately, and consistently.

+ Troubleshoot optical instruments, laboratory hardware, alignment issues, data-quality concerns, and measurement-method limitations.

+ Improve the repeatability, accuracy, throughput, and robustness of existing optical measurement techniques.

+ Analyze experimental data and summarize results using appropriate plots, reports, and technical documentation.

+ Work with materials, process, and product-development teams to correlate optical measurements with glass composition, processing conditions, and material performance.

+ Document experimental procedures, setup configurations, observations, and results in a clear and organized manner.

+ Communicate experimental findings, technical issues, and recommendations to project teams and stakeholders.

** Experiences/Education - Required*
* + MS or PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Optics, Photonics, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical field ORBS degree with 5+ years of relevant hands-on optics or laboratory experience may also be considered.

+ Experience working in an experimental laboratory, research environment, metrology group, or product-development setting.

+ Hands-on experience building, aligning,…