Lead Meta-Optics & Waveguide Design Engineer

Myrias Optics, Inc.; Amherst (MA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Compensation Package

Full Medical and Dental plans

Company paid disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Myrias Optics in Amherst, MA is seeking a Senior Optical Design Engineer to lead the design of metasurface and waveguide components for external customers and internal products. You will head the optical design team and collaborate with engineers and scientists to push meta-optics, diffractive optics, and nanoimprint processes.

The role requires strong background in optical engineering, hands-on design and simulation, and experience managing a team in a startup environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or MS.c. with 5+ years of related experience in optical engineering, electrical engineering, or equivalent field.
• Strong experience designing and simulating optical components and systems (diffractive optics, imaging systems, waveguides, laser systems).
• Familiarity with metasurface physics and multiple optics modelling approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day metasurface design and analysis using proprietary materials and processes.
• Develop simulation workflows and pipelines to advance our optical design environment.
• Design and simulate optical components and subsystems (waveguides, diffractive optics, meta-optics).
• Automate design tasks using Python and MATLAB for next-gen metasurface products.
• Coordinate with process development and production teams to bridge design and manufacturing.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Workflow automation

Education

MS/PhD in optics/EE

Tools

RCWA (S4)

FDTD (Meep)

Zemax/CodeV

RSoft

TMM

FEM

LightTrans

Job description

POSITION – Senior Optical Design Engineer

Mar 30, 2026

Company

Myrias Optics, Inc. is a fast-growing startup using proprietary nanoimprint technology to revolutionize the way optical components and systems are conceptualized, designed, and manufactured. The company is positioned to disrupt markets across a wide range of applications including consumer electronics, AR/VR, 3D scanners and LiDAR, imaging systems, optical communications, medical equipment, optical computing and more. Our unique all-inorganic imprinted optics enable metalenses, diffractive optics, waveguides all manufactured using wafer level process. By removing any organic material, we not only eliminate environmental and reliability issues but at the same time enable more complex designs with unmatched optical performance and highly cost-effective manufacturing.

POSITION – Senior Optical Design Engineer

Reporting to the Lead, the Senior Optical Design Engineer will collaborate with a talented team of engineers and scientists to help envision and design cutting-edge Myrias Optics components and systems. Specifically, this position will head up Myrias' design efforts, shaping the optical components and subsystem for our external customers and internal products. This position will also be responsible for growing and managing the optical design team. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and capable engineer to gain expertise in the growing fields of meta-optics, waveguides, and diffractive optics. Together, we can shape next-generation optical systems for consumer devices, AR/VR, medical instrumentation, automobiles, robotics, and more.

POSITION TYPE: Full time, on-site
LOCATION: Amherst, MA

RESPONSIBILITIES

• In collaboration with the technical team, the candidate will perform day-to-day metasurface design and analysis based on Myrias' proprietary all-inorganic nano-imprint materials and processes.
• Expand Myrias' design capabilities, including development of simulation workflows and modeling pipelines using in-house developed codes, to advance our unique and proprietary optical design environment.
• Design and simulate optical components and sub systems (waveguides, diffractive optics, meta-optics, etc.)
• Automate design tasks using Python and MATLAB for next-generation and future metasurface products.
• Perform tolerance studies, optimize, and iterate on designs to meet manufacturing requirements for Myrias' products.
• Coordinate with process development and production teams to bridge the gap between design and manufacturing.
• Support specification and acquisition of key design tools and hardware.
• Providing customer support for new designs and products and participating in customer meetings.
• Create detailed internal specification documents for simulation methodologies, design rules, and customer product reports.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. or MS.c. with 5+ years of related experience in optical engineering, electrical engineering, or equivalent field.
• Strong experience conducting design and simulation of optical components and systems, such as diffractive optics, imaging systems, optical waveguides, laser systems.
• Solid understanding of metasurface physics, and diffractive, geometrical, and ray optics.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, and C/C++ for scientific computing, and workflow automation.
• Extensive hands-on experience with commercial and custom optical design and simulation tools, including RCWA (e.g., S4), FDTD (Meep or Lumerical), Zemax/CodeV, and RSoft; familiarity with additional modeling techniques and tools such as TMM, FEM, LightTrans, etc., is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with Windows, Linux, and macOS environments, as well as experience using SLURM for workload and job management.
• Experience with optical characterization and the ability to experimentally validate designs in a laboratory setting.
• Strong interpersonal and technical communication skills.
• Familiarity with CAD design packages (e.g., SolidWorks or AutoCAD) are desirable.
• Familiarity with imprint or nanofabrication processes and cleanroom experience are a plus.
• Ability to bridge technology development with commercial demands.
• Comfortable with the fast-paced startup or early-stage business environment.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, detail-oriented, and self-driven with a hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves mentality.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing custom simulation tools and optimization pipeline.
• Experience with integrating machine learning and inverse design methods into metasurface design process.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive Compensation Package, including equity
• Full Medical and Dental plans
• Insurance: Company paid disability insurance
• Paid time off: Vacation and sick time

EEO Statement

Myrias Optics is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

APPLY

If you are interested in the role, please submit your resume in .pdf format with a title of "[First name] [last name] Resume" to [e-mail].

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