Principal Optics Engineer

Thales Defense & Security, Inc.

$146K — $186K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • U.S. Citizenship required; eligibility for classified information access.
  • Bachelor's in engineering or related technology field; Master's or PhD preferred.
  • At least 8 years of engineering experience, with 6+ years specifically in optics.
  • Experience with motion tracking in augmented reality devices is highly preferred.
  • Strong organizational skills and a solid work ethic.
  • Familiarity with the software development lifecycle.
  • Effective communication skills and ability to manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

  • Understand the augmented reality HMD market and customer needs.
  • Develop and maintain a network of contacts within the industry.
  • Attend conferences as a subject matter expert.
  • Define product requirements based on feasibility and manufacturability.
  • Propose R&D initiatives and oversee technology productization.
  • Provide technical support on proposals and customer interactions.
  • Collaborate with customers and vendors on technical solutions.
  • Manage vendor relationships and project milestones to guide development.
  • Design and develop optical components for head mounted displays.
  • Analyze and test performance of optical components in laboratory settings.
  • Debug display issues and create actionable plans for resolution.
  • Work effectively independently, balancing project assignments and scope.
  • Act as a key member of the HMD team, collaborating across multiple disciplines.

Benefits

  • Participation in relevant conferences for professional development.
  • Opportunity to engage in cutting-edge augmented reality projects.
  • Flexibility for some domestic and international travel.
  • Comprehensive support for collaboration across departments.
Full Job Description
We are excited to announce that we have an opening in our Billerica, MA office for a Principal Optics Engineer.

Responsibilities

  • Understand the Augmented Reality HMD marketspace, its requirements and customer needs
  • Develop / maintain a vast network of contacts at vendors, customers, and industry working groups
    • Attend and participate as subject matter expert in relevant conferences and symposia
  • Understand the physics and math of optics and displays
  • Develop product/development requirements - what is possible, what is manufacturable, how to bend physics to our will, and how much of that can we do now?
  • Propose R&D efforts, how to productize the resulting technologies, and the intervening set of tasks
  • Provide technical support and expertise on proposals, bid efforts and customer interactions
  • Interact with and impress customers, and vendor counterparts at very technical level
  • Manage vendors to a successful conclusion, including providing milestones for evaluating next direction, and cutting bait if such evaluation finds no promising direction
  • Design and develop optical components of head mounted displays (waveguide, projector, intervening optics)- potentially identifying COTS while overseeing adaption effort
  • Test performance of optical components (especially waveguides) in the lab
  • Analyze performance of optical components: provide and defend first order (oversimplified) calculations with stated assumptions to recommend whether a technical approach is worth further investigation (for instance in the lab)
  • Debug problems with our current displays
  • Operate without close supervision, which probably means turning an open-ended problem into a course of action and then following it to an actionable conclusion
    • This means both avoiding rabbit holes and politely avoiding accepting too many assignments or assignments with insufficient time, money, or probability of success
  • Perform as an integral member of the HMD team interacting on a regular basis with inter/intra-company disciplines including engineering, contracts, programs management, business development, and manufacturing
    Some domestic and international travel to vendors, customers, and conferences
  • By example, set the standards that embody the TDSI Core Value and Thales Leadership Model


Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • U.S. Citizenship required. - Applicants selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
  • Bachelor's in engineering or equivalent technology field, master's or PhD preferred
  • 8+ years' experience in hands on engineering role; with at least 6 dedicated to Optics
  • Experience with motion tracking integration into augmented reality devices (expertise preferred)
  • Excellent organizational skills and work ethic
  • Knowledge of software development lifecycle
  • Effective oral and written communication skills and the ability to manage multiple projects


The annualized pay range for this role is $146,151-$186,748 USD along with a target incentive compensation plan (ICP) of 5%. The pay range provided is a good faith estimate representative of the experience level for the role described above. TDSI considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

For specific questions about this job posting, candidates may contact talent acquisition at [email protected].

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