Optical & Manufacturing Engineer - IA Glasses Lens Technical Lead

Meta; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 204,000; Full time

Job summary

Meta in Redmond, WA, is seeking an Optical & Manufacturing Engineer to own the development and production ramp of precision ophthalmic optics for next‑gen AR glasses. You will lead from concept through prototype, validation, and scale, coordinating with supply‑chain partners to harden subsystems for high‑volume manufacturing.

The role emphasizes cross‑functional collaboration, DOE-driven process improvement, and hands‑on tooling and metrology, including lens cutting, molding, coating, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s in a technical field with hands-on manufacturing experience.
• Experience with ophthalmic manufacturing and metrology of optical components.

Responsibilities

• Own precision optical components from concept through prototype, validation and high‑volume production ramp.
• Lead external vendor and supply-chain collaborations spanning material selection, tooling, process optimization, metrology, and quality control.
• Develop and qualify ophthalmic manufacturing processes and the metrology used to verify optical components.
• Define and qualify manufacturing processes and tooling to establish new process capability with partners.
• Drive mold design and mold flow analysis to optimize tool geometry, gating, and process windows for optical-grade parts.
• Develop and qualify high-precision lens cutting processes, including CNC machining, edging, and laser systems at scale.
• Troubleshoot optical and mechanical defects and run DOE for root cause analysis and process improvement.
• Develop and integrate novel materials and fabrication processes to enable next-generation optics and displays.

Skills

Optical engineering

Mold design

Metrology

CNC machining

DOE analysis

Education

Master's in Optical Engineering or related field

Tools

Autodesk Moldflow

Moldex3D

CFD tools

Job description

As an Optical & Manufacturing Engineer at Reality Labs, you will own the development and productization of precision optical components, including ophthalmic-grade optics, that are core to next-generation AI and AR glasses. You will serve as the single point of accountability for optical components, from concept through prototype and validation to high-volume production ramp, working alongside a team tackling radically new concepts driven by the constraints of advanced AI and AR glasses. You will establish new process and tooling capabilities with supply-chain partners and release product sub-systems that are fully hardened for high-volume manufacturing. We are looking for engineers who work well across disciplines, who move fluidly between big-picture ideas and the critical details that make a technology succeed, and who bring a data-driven track record of taking products from concept to mass production.Optical & Manufacturing Engineer - IA Glasses Lens Technical Lead Responsibilities:Own precision optical components from concept through prototype, validation, and high-volume production ramp, as the single point of accountability for the outcomeLead external vendor and supply-chain collaborations spanning material selection, tooling, process optimization, metrology, and quality controlDevelop and qualify ophthalmic manufacturing processes and the metrology used to verify optical components, including optical power, surface form, wavefront, and cosmeticsDefine and qualify manufacturing processes and tooling, including precision molds, fixtures, and optical surface generation, to establish new process capability with partnersDrive mold design and mold flow analysis to optimize tool geometry, gating, and process windows for optical-grade partsDevelop and qualify high-precision lens cutting processes, including CNC machining, edging, and laser systems at scaleTroubleshoot optical and mechanical defects and run design of experiments (DOE) for root cause analysis and process improvementDevelop and integrate novel materials and fabrication processes such as lamination, optical surface generation, coating, casting, and injection molding to enable next-generation optics and displaysPartner with cross-functional teams to set program priorities and deliver product sub-systems hardened for high-volume manufacturingMinimum Qualifications:Bachelors or Master's degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience6+ years of experience in manufacturing and process development of precision optical componentsExperience with ophthalmic manufacturing of optical componentsExperience with metrology of optical components, including optical power, surface form, wavefront, and cosmetic inspection, and with material and mechanical characterizationExperience with mold design and mold flow analysisExperience with mold flow and fluid dynamics simulation software (e.g., Autodesk Moldflow, Moldex3D, or equivalent CFD tools)Experience with CNC machining and edging tools for high-precision lens cuttingExperience with laser cutting and engraving of optical componentsExperience with optical material process development and optical component fabricationExperience with precision tooling and manufacturing methods such as optical-grade injection molding, casting and high volume manufacturingExperience with DOE design and data analysis for problem solving and root cause analysisExperience communicating technical results in English, written and verbal, as the role requires collaboration with English-speaking cross-functional teams and external vendors globallyPreferred Qualifications:Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologiesDemonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologiesPhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience in the optical plastic lens industryDemonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)Experience with sequential ray tracing, optical simulation, and tolerancing using Zemax or CODE VExperience with novel manufacturing techniques, processes, and materialsExperience with pressure-sensitive and other optical adhesivesExperience with optical compliance and product regulations such as FDA, ANSI, or ISOExperience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)8+ years of experience with optical materials and process engineeringExperience owning tooling development and qualification for molds and fixtures, from design through productionExperience with film lamination, coating, casting, molding, and multilayer or multi-material stacksExperience with ophthalmic coating design, process development, and manufacturing8+ years of experience in optical plastic lens component manufacturingAbout 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].$144,000/year to $204,000/year + bonus + equity + benefitsIndividual 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.