Materials Engineer, Optical Substrate

Snap

Abingdon

On-site

GBP 85,000 - 115,000

Full time

10 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Paid parental leave

Medical coverage

Mental health support

Equity benefits

Job summary

Snap Inc. is seeking a Nanophotonics Engineer to develop and qualify optical materials, waveguide processes, and measurement methodologies for next-gen AR devices.

You will work across the full development lifecycle, from requirements to manufacturing decisions, collaborating with suppliers and internal teams. The role requires PhD or 7+ years in optics/R&D, strong data analysis, and hands-on experience with optical testing and materials.

Qualifications

PhD or 7+ years in optics/R&D with nanophotonics exposure.
Hands-on optical experimentation and materials characterization.
Ability to design experiments, analyze data, and deliver technical recommendations.

Responsibilities

Lead or support material and substrate qualification across polymers, glass, lithium niobate, silicon carbide, and other advanced optical materials.
Define sample requirements, test plans, acceptance criteria, and data packages for internal and external technical initiatives.
Perform optical measurements, including transmission, reflectance, refractive index, absorption, haze, scattering, efficiency, and FOV.
Establish measurement methods and evaluate metrology capability for surface roughness, flatness, and wafer‑level optical characterization.
Plan and execute experiments comparing optical simulations with measured performance and close the loop through design or process revisions.
Develop fabrication processes, including wafer cleaning, nanoimprinting, thin‑film coating, laser cutting, and waveguide stacking.
Develop reliability and mechanical test strategies covering flexural strength, impact and drop resistance, thermal exposure, UV weathering, humidity, and adhesion.
Translate optical and process requirements into supplier‑ready drawings, wafer layouts, mask data, cutting instructions, and technical specifications.
Collaborate with material, coating, wafer, and equipment suppliers to qualify capabilities, review data, manage samples, and resolve process challenges.
Coordinate cross‑functional builds and trials with teams across materials, process, design, manufacturing, reliability, and optical‑test engineering.
Analyze data, maintain documentation, and communicate insights to stakeholders and leadership.

Skills

Optics fundamentals

Nanophotonics

Waveguide physics

Optical materials

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in Physics, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, or Electrical Engineering

7+ years of relevant industry experience

Tools

Python

MATLAB

FEA tools

Job description

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. The Company operates Snapchat, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world, and Specs Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary dedicated to making computing more human, in addition to Bitmoji, Saturn, and other digital services. Specs Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Snap Inc. dedicated to making computing more human. The company develops Specs, advanced eyewear that seamlessly integrates digital experiences into the physical world. Specs feature see-through lenses that place digital objects directly into three-dimensional space, powered by Snap OS, a proprietary, context-aware operating system designed for natural interaction with your hands and voice. Specs Inc. also provides Lens Studio, a full suite of advanced developer tools that powers immersive augmented reality experiences across Specs, Snapchat, and other services.

We are looking for a Nanophotonics Engineer to develop, qualify, and scale optical materials, waveguide processes, and measurement methodologies for next‑generation augmented reality devices. This role combines materials qualification with optical simulation, hands‑on fabrication, metrology, mechanical and reliability testing, and technical engagement with suppliers. You will work across the complete development lifecycle: defining requirements, planning experiments, fabricating and measuring samples, benchmarking results against simulations, identifying root causes, and translating findings into robust product and manufacturing decisions.

What you’ll do:

Lead or support material and substrate qualification across polymers, glass, lithium niobate, silicon carbide, and other advanced optical materials
Define sample requirements, test plans, acceptance criteria, and data packages for internal and external technical initiatives
Perform and interpret optical measurements, including transmission, reflectance, refractive index, absorption, haze, scattering, efficiency, uniformity, luminance, MTF, and FOV
Establish measurement methods and evaluate metrology capability for surface roughness, flatness, scattering, visual inspection, and wafer‑level optical characterization
Plan and execute experiments comparing optical simulations with measured performance, identifying discrepancies and closing the loop through design or process revisions
Develop and refine fabrication processes, including wafer cleaning, nanoimprinting, thin‑film coating, laser cutting, blackening, and waveguide stacking
Develop reliability and mechanical test strategies covering flexural strength, impact and drop resistance, thermal exposure, UV weathering, humidity, dynamic fatigue, adhesion, and geometric stability
Translate optical and process requirements into supplier‑ready drawings, wafer layouts, mask data, cutting instructions, and technical specifications
Collaborate directly with material, coating, wafer, and equipment suppliers to qualify capabilities, review technical data, manage samples, and resolve process challenges
Coordinate cross‑functional builds and trials alongside materials, process, design, manufacturing, reliability, and optical‑test engineering teams
Analyze experimental data, maintain rigorous technical documentation, and communicate key insights and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Strong core fundamentals in optics, nanophotonics, mechanics, waveguide physics, or optical materials
Proven track record of designing and executing experiments in R&D or manufacturing environments
Ability to correlate optical performance with material properties, process parameters, structural geometry, and measurement uncertainty
Exceptional data analysis and problem‑solving skills, with a proven capability to isolate design, process, material, and metrology variables
Practical expertise in optical measurement systems and experimental calibration techniques
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and communicate clearly with internal stakeholders and external partners
High attention to detail in sample handling, process control, data traceability, and technical documentation

Minimum Qualifications

PhD in Physics, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or 7+ years of relevant industry experience
Hands‑on experience with optical experimentation, materials characterization, photonic device development, or a related laboratory discipline
Experience analyzing complex experimental data and delivering technical recommendations
Ability to create structured test plans, document procedures, and maintain traceable experimental records
Comfortable working hands‑on with laboratory equipment and technical test samples

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with waveguide optics, diffractive optics, AR/VR displays, grating couplers, or nanophotonic devices
Experience with optical modeling, RCWA simulations, ray tracing, or correlation of simulations to physical measurements
Experience with nanoimprint lithography, spin coating, thin‑film deposition, wafer processing, laser cutting, or optical assembly
Experience characterizing refractive index, transmission, reflectance, absorption, haze, scattering, surface roughness, or flatness
Experience with glass, SiC, polymers, resins, hardcoats, anti‑reflection coatings, or other optical materials
Familiarity with optical metrology systems, spectrometers, interferometric or profilometry tools, or custom measurement equipment
Experience developing mechanical, environmental, or reliability tests for optical components
Proficiency in developing and executing Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models for stress, deformation, thermal, mechanical, or reliability analysis of materials
Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools for data analysis and technical automation
Experience creating or reviewing CAD, DXF, wafer‑layout, or supplier‑manufacturing data
Experience working with external suppliers on technical requirements, sample plans, process development, and qualification

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please don’t be shy and provide us some information.

"Default Together" Policy at Snap: At Snap Inc. we believe that being together in person helps us build our culture faster, reinforce our values, and serve our community, customers and partners better through dynamic collaboration. To reflect this, we practice a “default together” approach and expect our team members to work in an office 4+ days per week. At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. EOE, including disability/vets.

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