Principal Optical Engineer

Thales Defense & Security, Inc.•Billerica, MA

37d•$146,151 - $186,748•Hybrid

About The Position

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is hiring a Principal Optical Engineer for its Billerica, Massachusetts office. The role focuses on designing, analyzing, building, testing, and characterizing optical systems and display devices, particularly head-mounted displays (HMDs). The engineer will develop optical components such as waveguides, projectors, and intervening optics; assess commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions and adaptations; define optical characteristics and requirements; and investigate technologies with a view toward productization. The Principal Optical Engineer serves as a technical lead and subject matter expert on HMD markets, applications, customer needs, optical and display technologies, fabrication, and manufacturing. The role includes analyzing component performance, evaluating samples and prototypes, resolving display issues, advising on technical approaches, and making evidence-based make-versus-buy recommendations. The engineer also supports proposals and customer engagements, manages vendor evaluations, contributes to cross-functional HMD team activities, and operates independently from open-ended problems through actionable conclusions. Some domestic and international travel is required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Applicants selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering or a technology field.
At least 8 years of hands-on engineering experience, including at least 6 years dedicated to optics and optical engineering.
Proficiency with a variety of optical test and metrology equipment and instruments.
Must be hands-on in a laboratory.
Excellent organizational skills and work ethic.
Knowledge of the software development lifecycle.
Effective oral and written communication skills and ability to manage multiple projects.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD.
Expertise in motion-tracking integration into augmented reality devices.

Responsibilities

Design, analyze, and build optical systems and display devices, especially head-mounted displays (HMDs).
Design and develop optical components, including waveguides, projectors, and intervening optics.
Investigate and evaluate available commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions and possible adaptations.
Capture and define optical characteristics and parameters.
Develop product and development requirements, and define the art of the possible.
Propose research, technology advancement, and feasibility studies, with attention to productizing resulting technologies.
Analyze optical component performance and provide and defend first-order calculations with stated assumptions to assess whether technical approaches warrant further investigation.
Test and characterize optical component performance, especially waveguides, in the laboratory.
Evaluate vendor and partner samples and prototype designs, perform competitive comparisons, and debug and resolve display problems.
Serve as lead engineer and subject matter expert on the HMD market, requirements, use cases, and customer needs, including AR displays, VAS/AVAS, OHMD, OST systems, and computer-generated or live imagery.
Maintain expertise in relevant technologies and trends, optics physics and mathematics, and display fabrication and manufacturing processes.
Apply and assess core HMD technologies, including image generation, microdisplay projection, optical components, and low-latency motion synchronization.
Develop and maintain contacts at vendors, customers, and industry working groups; attend and participate in relevant conferences and symposia as a subject matter expert.
Provide technical support and expertise for proposals, bid efforts, and customer interactions.
Interact with customers, partners, and vendors at a highly technical level.
Generate make-versus-buy recommendations based on analysis and market studies.
Manage and influence vendors toward successful conclusions, including defining evaluation milestones and ending evaluations when there is no promising direction.
Work independently to turn open-ended problems into actionable courses of action and conclusions, while managing assignment scope and feasibility.
Contribute as an integral member of the HMD team and collaborate with engineering, contracts, program management, business development, and manufacturing.
Travel domestically and internationally to vendors, customers, and conferences as needed.
Set an example consistent with TDSI Core Values and the Thales Leadership Model.