Manager, Optical Engineering

Alcon Research•Fort Worth, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Optical Engineering is part of Alcon’s Engineering function and leads multiple teams responsible for designing, developing, and testing optical systems and components. The position balances technical leadership with managerial responsibilities, supporting teams with the tools and processes needed to drive innovation and maintain product excellence. This is an on-site role in Fort Worth, Texas, with travel of up to 5%. Sponsorship and relocation are not available. The manager leads the optical systems engineering team within a multidisciplinary engineering function and partners with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to design, build, and field optical instruments and clinical devices. As part of Alcon’s Advanced Optics Technologies group, the role connects integrated optical systems engineering with optical design, metrology, vision science, and advanced analysis capabilities. The position supports next-generation intraocular lens and contact lens innovation by developing reusable optical instruments, metrology platforms, test methods, and clinical evaluation technologies for both product portfolios. It serves as the technical authority for optical system design, tolerancing, analysis, build, and qualification across early-stage R&D test beds and GxP systems used in manufacturing and clinical studies. This is a player-coach role, with approximately 60–70% of time spent leading, directing, and developing the team and 30–40% contributing hands-on to critical design and analysis work. The manager raises the team’s technical capabilities through design reviews, demonstrations, and mentoring informed by direct experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent directly related experience; stated equivalencies include high school plus 15 years, associate degree plus 11 years, master’s degree plus 4 years, or PhD plus 3 years.
Ability to fluently read, write, understand, and communicate in English.
7 years of relevant experience.
5 years of demonstrated leadership.

Nice To Haves

Practical experience with optical metrology and alignment tools for measurement and qualification of optical systems and subsystems.
Proficiency with OpticStudio/Zemax.
Experience with FRED, MATLAB, and Python.

Responsibilities

Lead multiple teams designing, developing, and testing optical systems and components.
Lead and develop the optical systems engineering team within a multidisciplinary engineering function.
Partner with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to design, build, and field optical instruments and clinical devices.
Connect integrated optical systems engineering with the Advanced Optics Technologies group’s capabilities in optical design, metrology, vision science, and advanced analysis.
Develop reusable optical instruments, metrology platforms, test methods, and clinical evaluation technologies to support intraocular lens and contact lens innovation.
Serve as the technical authority for optical system design, tolerancing, analysis, build, and qualification across R&D, manufacturing, and clinical systems.
Contribute hands-on to critical design and analysis work.
Raise the team’s technical capabilities through design reviews, demonstrations, and mentoring.
Lead, mentor, and set priorities for optical engineers, metrology engineers, and optical systems technicians.