Senior Optics Scientist

Corning•City of Corning, NY

7d•$102,650 - $141,145•Onsite

About The Position

Corning is a world leader in glass, ceramic, and materials science, known for its innovation and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. The company's technologies impact various markets, including life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar. This role focuses on driving innovation in optical, photonic, and opto-mechanical technologies. The Senior Optics Scientist will be responsible for the design, development, and characterization of advanced components and systems, taking early-stage inventions through prototype demonstration and validation across diverse markets such as optical communications, datacenter interconnects, AI computing, advanced optical connectivity solutions, advanced displays, life sciences, and energy. This involves integrating expertise in optics, applied physics, modeling, and materials.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Applied Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related discipline; or M.S. in related field with 3+ years of relevant industrial experience
Hands-on experience and working knowledge of optical systems, imaging hardware, and optical test and measurement systems
Strong ownership and ability to deliver results with minimal supervision
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to troubleshoot complex technical challenges independently
Strong data analysis, technical writing, and presentation skills; proficiency with inter-office tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
Curiosity, patience, and an innovative mindset with a desire to learn new technologies that push beyond your current skills and experience
Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in high-performance, multi-disciplinary teams
Effective communication skills for technical and business audiences

Nice To Haves

Experience with optical materials, photonic components, or integrated optical systems
Experience in designing and analyzing optical systems using various modeling tools such as COMSOL, Lumerical, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent
Knowledge of optical connectivity, telecommunications systems, and datacenter or AI interconnect architectures
Familiarity with optical connectivity technologies, optoelectronics, optical waveguides, display, or scattering optics
Programming skills for automation, data acquisition, and process control (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python)
Experience in prototype development, product commercialization, and technology transfer
Track record of patents, publications, or external technical contributions and benchmarking experience
Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate in a small team on focused projects

Responsibilities

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and leverage optical modeling and optical experimental techniques to develop and support next-generation technologies for telecommunications, data centers, solar, and displays.
Work with technical leaders to define technical requirements, performance metrics, and validation protocols for optical solutions.
Apply rigorous analytical methods to develop fundamental understanding and solve complex technical challenges, via root-cause analysis and innovative solutions.
Lead or contribute to focused technical projects, providing technical guidance to scientists, engineers, and technicians.
Document and communicate technical work, through presentations to internal teams, customers and external forums, and contribute to intellectual property.
Stay current with emerging technologies, tools, and industry best practices.
Occasional travel for collaboration, benchmarking, or conference participation.