Optical Systems Research Scientist

At Meta’s Reality Labs Research, our goal is to make world-class consumer virtual, augmented, and mixed reality experiences. Come work alongside industry-leading scientists and engineers to create the technology that makes MR, VR, and AR pervasive and universal. Join the adventure of a lifetime as we make science fiction real and change the world. We are currently seeking an Optical Systems Research Scientist with experience in diffractive optics, geometrical optics, polarization optics, and optical sensing. This scientist will develop optical designs and architecture to support new materials platforms for imaging and sensing applications. You will build end to end designs, partnering with internal teams and external partners to prove out new designs and architectures via prototypes and optical testing. This role requires complex collaboration with materials scientists, multiphysics and mechanics subject matter specialists, optical scientists, and product teams.

Optical Systems Research Scientist Responsibilities:

• Develop optical designs and architecture to support new materials platforms for imaging and sensing applications.
• Deliver best-in-class end-to-end optical designs based on top-down and first principles optical system design methodology.
• Incorporate accelerated productization methodology into program structures in order to deliver breakthrough technologies to internal partner and customer teams at MVP level technical maturity.
• Identify and incubate new Materials and Systems research portfolio applications.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD degree or equivalent experience in Optical Sciences, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or Systems Engineering or a related field.
• 8 years experience in optical architecture innovation and system analysis.
• Experience with optical design using standard design software such as CODE V, Zemax, or LightTools.
• Cross-disciplinary experience in opto-mechanics and opto-electronics.
• Experience with imaging and illumination systems.
• Experience with physical and geometrical optics.
• Experience with the usage and design criteria of diffractive optical elements, waveguiding optics, birefringent optics, freeforms, metamaterials, liquid crystals, and micro-optics
• Experience in highly-collaborative cross-functional environments.
• Experience performing trade analyses.
• Experience with visual optics.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10 years of experience in systems research.
• Experience with electromagnetic modeling and analysis of nanoscale structures, anisotropic materials, films, or holographic elements.
• Experience with systems engineering approaches.
• A proven track record of providing solutions to complex optical problems from both the system and component level.
• Analytical approach strongly rooted in first principles methodology.
• Unafraid to explore underlying assumptions and dedicated to delivering solutions to complex problems.

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.