AR Waveguide Optical Engineer - Experimental R&D

Snapchat; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 93,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Snap Inc. is seeking an Optical Engineer for a 12-month fixed-term contract in the UK to advance AR waveguide experiments. You will develop new methods, model optical phenomena, and automate optical setups while collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve waveguide performance.

The role requires a strong optics background, hands-on lab experience, and proficiency in Python for data analysis, with opportunities to work on nanoscale diffractive structures and advanced metrology tools.

Qualifications

• Strong theoretical foundation in optics and diffraction theory (including physical and geometric optics, imaging, radiometry, photometry, colorimetry, statistics).
• Solid understanding of polarization theory and experimental techniques.
• Experience with interferometry and phase retrieval methods.
• Strong scripting and data analysis skills in Python (or similar).
• Proficient in error analysis of experiments.
• Experience working in an optical lab environment, hands-on experience setting up and aligning optical systems.
• Experience of nanoscale metrology for evaluating diffractive structures (SEM, AFM).
• Strong planning and organisational skills for high-risk R&D projects.
• Adaptable to rapid changes in project scope or timelines.
• Clear communicator with strong reasoning and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop new experimental methods to deepen understanding of AR waveguide physics.
• Build and apply models of optical and physical phenomena to interpret lab experiments.
• Design, build, and automate optical setups.
• Run experimental analysis of waveguides using both proprietary and commercial tools.
• Perform root cause analysis of failures of waveguide displays.
• Perform experiments on diffractive nanostructures to improve correlation between measurements and predictions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams on waveguide bring-up, debugging, and performance improvements.

Skills

Optics theory

Diffraction theory

Polarization theory

Interferometry

Python scripting

Data analysis

Laboratory optics setup

Nanoscale metrology

Waveguide knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master's in Optical/Physics/EE or related field

Tools

Zemax

CodeV

FRED

ASAP

Lumerical

RSoft

COMSOL

MEEP

Job description

Snap Inc. is seeking an Optical Engineer for a 12-month fixed-term contract in the UK to advance AR waveguide experiments. You will develop new methods, model optical phenomena, and automate optical setups while collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve waveguide performance.

The role requires a strong optics background, hands-on lab experience, and proficiency in Python for data analysis, with opportunities to work on nanoscale diffractive structures and advanced metrology tools.