Co-Founder & Head of Photonic Design Platform (Remote)

NEURALOPTIX INC; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

NEURALOPTIX INC invites a visionary co-founder to become Head of Intelligent Design Platform, leading waveguide design for next‑gen AR/VR/MR displays. You will own physics, modeling, and integration into imaging pipelines, driven by electromagnetic theory, optics, and software development to deliver bright, color‑accurate, manufacturable subsystems.

You will collaborate with partners, guide core photonic innovation, and build automated design and simulation pipelines while balancing

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.S. in optics, applied physics, electrical engineering, or a related field, with 5+ years of experience in optical design, waveguides, or displays.
• Strong foundation in electromagnetic theory and imaging & illumination optics.
• Hands-on experience with ray tracing and physical optics modeling, including tolerance/sensitivity analysis.
• Proficiency in software development (Python and/or C++; familiarity with modern software practices).
• Practical knowledge of grating/waveguide design (RCWA/FDTD), and materials.
• Fundamental understanding of display metrics and image quality, and related characterization methods.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. Ability to plan ahead and mitigate challenges.

Responsibilities

• Own the waveguide architecture, optical design, and performance optimization needed to meet or exceed customer requirements.
• Build automated pipelines for ray/physical optics simulations, waveguide optimization, and design for manufacturability.
• Analyze customer waveguide performance, report findings, and recommend sustainable improvements.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to specify tolerances and metrology; analyze yield and risks. Incorporate feedback into our software platforms supporting design, optimization, DFM, DTCO, and computational efforts.
• Write technical reports, patent disclosures, and publications; present design reviews; collaborate with existing and new customers.

Skills

EM theory & optics

Ray tracing & physical optics

Software development (Python/C++)

Display metrics & image quality

Communication & collaboration

Multi-priority management

Education

PhD or MS in optics/applied physics/EE

Tools

RCWA

FDTD

Python

C++

Slurm

Kubernetes

GPU acceleration

Job description

NEURALOPTIX INC invites a visionary co-founder to become Head of Intelligent Design Platform, leading waveguide design for next‑gen AR/VR/MR displays. You will own physics, modeling, and integration into imaging pipelines, driven by electromagnetic theory, optics, and software development to deliver bright, color‑accurate, manufacturable subsystems.

You will collaborate with partners, guide core photonic innovation, and build automated design and simulation pipelines while balancing