Optical Scientist - DSR

Meta; Redmond; On-site; AUD 262,000 - 366,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Meta Reality Labs is seeking an Optical Scientist to advance nano-photonics research for wearable AR systems. You will design, simulate, and validate immersive display, sensing, and optical-compute components, collaborating with scientists and engineers across multiple disciplines.

The role requires deep expertise in optical devices, wave/geometric optics, and photonic integration, with a track record of fabricating and testing novel photonic structures.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in Optical Sciences, Physics, EE or related field.
• 8+ years in optical design using listed software tools.
• 8+ years scientific programming (MATLAB, Python, C++).
• 8+ years experience with light propagation methods and optimization.
• Experience with wave and geometric optics, polarization, and coherence.
• 8+ years in fabrication and testing of photonic devices.

Responsibilities

• Design and model component technologies and system architectures for near-eye display, sensors, and optical compute.
• Advance design methodologies and workflows, including new algorithms and simulation tools.
• Collaborate across computation, optics, chemistry, materials science and process development to build design tools.

Skills

Optical design expertise

Wave optics

Geometric optics

Polarization

Coherence

Scientific programming

Education

PhD in Optical Sciences / Physics / EE or related field

Tools

Lumerical

Virtual Lab

FRED

LightTools

Zemax

CODE V

MATLAB

Python

C++

Job description

At Meta Reality Labs, we build world-class consumer virtual, augmented, and mixed reality experiences. You'll work alongside leading scientists and engineers on the technology that will make AR and VR pervasive — turning science fiction into products people use every day.The Advanced Photonics group within Display Systems Research (DSR) is hiring an Optical Scientist to push nano-photonics research toward wearable AR systems that enable advanced perceptual capabilities. In this role you will conceptualize, design, build, and validate immersive display, sensing, and optical-compute components and architectures. We're looking for someone with a first-principles understanding of nano-photonic devices — metastructures, optical computation, and visible/IR photonic integrated circuits — who is equally comfortable developing the simulation, optimization, and validation methods those devices demand, in a highly cross-functional and fast-moving environment.

Optical Scientist - DSR Responsibilities:

• Design and model component technologies and system architectures for near-eye display combiners, novel sensors, and optical compute
• Advance our design methodologies and workflows, including strategic planning of new algorithms and expansion of simulation and optimization capabilities for future technologies and products
• Partner with scientists and engineers across computation, optics, chemistry, materials science, process development, and integration to identify gaps and opportunities, and to build the design, modeling, and optimization tools that overcome current limitations

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD degree or equivalent experience in the field of Optical Sciences, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field
• 8+ years experience in optical design using standard design software such as Lumerical, Virtual Lab, FRED, LightTools, Zemax, or CODE V
• 8+ years experience in scientific programming and data analysis tools (e.g. MATLAB, Python, C++, etc.)
• 8+ years experience with methods of light propagation both in wave and ray domains as well as mixed models and familiarity with local and global optimization algorithm development
• Experience with wave optics, geometric optics, polarization, and coherence
• 8+ years experience with electromagnetic modeling and analysis of nanoscale structures, anisotropic materials, non-linear materials, switchable materials or holographic elements
• 8+ years of experience in fabrication and functional testing of novel photonic devices such as metastructures, photonic integrated circuits, holographic elements, diffractive, and refractive structures

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in optical metrology tools such as interferometry, image quality testing, etc
• 10+ years of experience in design, fabrication and testing of novel optical structures such as active or passive metastructures, holographic elements, sub-wavelength diffractive structures, beam steering elements, novel sensors, optical compute, etc
• 10+ years experience in using machine learning or deep neural networks for novel nano-optics design
• 10+ years experience in working with electromagnetic theory, modeling optical structures and building software tools for simulation work on distributed systems and parallel computing infrastructure

About Meta:

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.

Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at [e-mail].

$184,000/year to $257,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.