Senior Optics Engineer, AR/HMD Vision Systems

Thales Defense & Security, Inc.; South Billerica (MA); Hybrid; USD 146,151 - 186,748; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan

Medical insurance for self and family

401(k) with up to 7% company match

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday

Parental leave

9/80 Work Schedule

Hybrid working environment

Job summary

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. in Billerica, MA seeks a Principal Optics Engineer to lead development of AR head-mounted display components, including waveguides and projectors. You will engage with vendors and customers, drive R&D proposals, and provide technical support across the full lifecycle, often traveling to sites and conferences.

The role requires U.S. citizenship, 8+ years in hands-on engineering with optics, and strong communication skills; the company offers a competitive salary,

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required; security eligibility may be evaluated.
• Bachelor's in engineering or equivalent; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years hands-on engineering with at least 6 in optics.
• Experience with motion tracking in AR devices (preferred).
• Strong organizational, written and verbal communication.
• Knowledge of the software development lifecycle.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and coordinate with teams.

Responsibilities

• Understand AR HMD market requirements and customer needs.
• Develop and maintain a network of vendor and industry contacts.
• Understand optics physics and displays; propose feasible R&D tasks.
• Design and develop optical components for head-mounted displays.
• Test waveguides and other optical components in the lab.
• Provide technical support on proposals and customer interactions.
• Interact with customers and vendors at a technical level; travel as needed.

Skills

US Citizenship

Optics specialist

AR/HMD

Systems thinking

multitask management

Software lifecycle

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's in engineering or equivalent

Master’s or PhD preferred

Job description

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. in Billerica, MA seeks a Principal Optics Engineer to lead development of AR head-mounted display components, including waveguides and projectors. You will engage with vendors and customers, drive R&D proposals, and provide technical support across the full lifecycle, often traveling to sites and conferences.

The role requires U.S. citizenship, 8+ years in hands-on engineering with optics, and strong communication skills; the company offers a competitive salary,