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.

Optical Process & Manufacturing Engineer - Lens Technical Lead 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 experience6+ 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 industry8+ years of experience with optical materials and process engineering lens manufacturing

Experience with sequential ray tracing, optical simulation, and tolerancing using Zemax or Code VExperience 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…