Optical Process & Manufacturing Engineer - Lens Technical Lead

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

Job summary

Reality Labs, a Meta division, seeks an Optical Process & Manufacturing Engineer to own precision optical components from concept to mass production, including ophthalmic-grade optics. You will coordinate with external vendors and supply-chain partners to qualify processes and tooling for high-volume manufacture.

The role requires leading metrology development and DOE-based improvements, while driving new materials and fabrication methods for next-generation optics and displays.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 6+ years of experience in manufacturing and process development of precision optical components for ophthalmic or consumer electronics.
• Experience with metrology of optical components, including optical power, surface form, wavefront, and cosmetic inspection, and with material and mechanical characterization.
• Experience with mold design and mold flow analysis.
• Experience with mold flow and fluid dynamics simulation software (e.g., Autodesk Moldflow, Moldex3D, or equivalent CFD tools)
• Experience with precision tooling and manufacturing methods such as optical‑grade injection molding, casting in high-volume manufacturing

Responsibilities

• Own precision optical components from concept through prototype, validation, and high-volume production ramp, as the single point of accountability for the outcome.
• 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, including optical power, surface form, wavefront, and cosmetics.
• Define and qualify manufacturing processes and tooling, including precision molds, fixtures, and optical surface generation, 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 design of experiments (DOE) for root cause analysis and process improvement.
• Develop and integrate novel materials and fabrication processes such as lamination, optical surface generation, coating, casting, and injection molding to enable next‑generation optics and displays.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to set program priorities and deliver product sub‑systems hardened for high-volume manufacturing

Skills

Optical engineering

Mold design

Metrology

Mold flow analysis

CFD tools

High-volume manufacturing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering

Ph.D. in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

Autodesk Moldflow

Moldex3D

Zemax or Code V

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 Process & Manufacturing Engineer - 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 outcome
• 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, including optical power, surface form, wavefront, and cosmetics
• Define and qualify manufacturing processes and tooling, including precision molds, fixtures, and optical surface generation, 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 design of experiments (DOE) for root cause analysis and process improvement
• Develop and integrate novel materials and fabrication processes such as lamination, optical surface generation, coating, casting, and injection molding to enable next‑generation optics and displays
• Partner with cross-functional teams to set program priorities and deliver product sub‑systems hardened for high-volume manufacturing

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• 6+ years of experience in manufacturing and process development of precision optical components for ophthalmic or consumer electronics
• Experience with metrology of optical components, including optical power, surface form, wavefront, and cosmetic inspection, and with material and mechanical characterization
• Experience with mold design and mold flow analysis
• Experience with mold flow and fluid dynamics simulation software (e.g., Autodesk Moldflow, Moldex3D, or equivalent CFD tools)
• Experience with precision tooling and manufacturing methods such as optical‑grade injection molding, casting in high-volume manufacturing

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. In Materials Science, Polymer Science, Optical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience in the optical plastics lens industry
• 8+ years of experience with optical materials and process engineering lens manufacturing
• Experience with sequential ray tracing, optical simulation, and tolerancing using Zemax or Code V
• Experience with DOE design and data analysis for problem solving and root cause analysis
• Experience with emerging or non-traditional manufacturing techniques, processes, and materials such as lamination, optical surface generation, or advanced casting methods
• Experience in owning tooling development and qualification for molds and fixtures, from design through production
• Experience with ophthalmic coating design, process development, and manufacturing
• Experience with high-precision machining and edging tools for lens cutting and engraving
• Experience with optical compliance and product regulations such as FDA, ANSI, or ISO

About 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.

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$144,000/year to $204,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Individual 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.