Optical Scientist Jobs
Optical Scientist jobs are open across defense, semiconductor, medical devices, telecommunications, and government research, from new-grad associate to principal and staff levels, with specializations in laser systems, imaging optics, and fiber optics. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 21+ Optical Scientist jobs
Research Scientist, Optical Systems Responsibilities:
- Develop and optimize techniques and processes for the fabrication of diffraction gratings and light guides on organic substrates
- Perform nanostructure patterning using e-beam lithography, stepper lithography, and nanoimprint lithography techniques
- Develop and characterize dry etch and wet etch processes for precision waveguide fabrication
- Deposit dielectric thin films using sputtering, atomic layer deposition (ALD), and e-beam evaporation techniques
- Perform metrology and characterization using AFM, SEM, optical profilometry, and spectroscopic methods
- Collaborate with optical designers, materials scientists, and integration teams to translate design requirements into manufacturing processes
- Document, develop standard operating procedures, and contribute to IP generation
- Identify and troubleshoot yield-limiting defects and process excursions
- Support technology transfer from R&D to pilot-scale and high-volume manufacturing
Minimum Qualifications:
- PhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field
- Hands-on experience with nanofabrication techniques, including E-beam lithography, optical steppers, and dry/plasma etching
- Experience with thin-film deposition methods (sputtering, ALD, or e-beam evaporation)
- Proficiency with metrology tools such as AFM, SEM, and optical characterization systems
- Demonstrated experience in developing and optimizing fabrication processes from development through qualification
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with organic/polymer substrates and their processing challenges (thermal budget, CTE mismatch, surface energy). Experience with nanoimprint lithography (NIL) or roll-to-roll patterning
- 2+ years of relevant industry experience, or Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant industry experience
- Background in AR/VR optics, holographic optical elements, surface-relief gratings, or photonic devices
- Experience fabricating diffractive optical elements, waveguides, or photonic structures
- Fundamental understanding of light-matter interaction, photonic nanostructures, and device physics
- Experience scaling processes from R&D prototyping to pilot production
- Knowledge of optical thin-film design and coating characterization
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.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$154,000/year to $217,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
Research Scientist, Optical Systems Responsibilities:
- Develop and optimize techniques and processes for the fabrication of diffraction gratings and light guides on organic substrates
- Perform nanostructure patterning using e-beam lithography, stepper lithography, and nanoimprint lithography techniques
- Develop and characterize dry etch and wet etch processes for precision waveguide fabrication
- Deposit dielectric thin films using sputtering, atomic layer deposition (ALD), and e-beam evaporation techniques
- Perform metrology and characterization using AFM, SEM, optical profilometry, and spectroscopic methods
- Collaborate with optical designers, materials scientists, and integration teams to translate design requirements into manufacturing processes
- Document, develop standard operating procedures, and contribute to IP generation
- Identify and troubleshoot yield-limiting defects and process excursions
- Support technology transfer from R&D to pilot-scale and high-volume manufacturing
Minimum Qualifications:
- PhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field
- Hands-on experience with nanofabrication techniques, including E-beam lithography, optical steppers, and dry/plasma etching
- Experience with thin-film deposition methods (sputtering, ALD, or e-beam evaporation)
- Proficiency with metrology tools such as AFM, SEM, and optical characterization systems
- Demonstrated experience in developing and optimizing fabrication processes from development through qualification
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with organic/polymer substrates and their processing challenges (thermal budget, CTE mismatch, surface energy). Experience with nanoimprint lithography (NIL) or roll-to-roll patterning
- 2+ years of relevant industry experience, or Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant industry experience
- Background in AR/VR optics, holographic optical elements, surface-relief gratings, or photonic devices
- Experience fabricating diffractive optical elements, waveguides, or photonic structures
- Fundamental understanding of light-matter interaction, photonic nanostructures, and device physics
- Experience scaling processes from R&D prototyping to pilot production
- Knowledge of optical thin-film design and coating characterization
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.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$154,000/year to $217,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
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Find Optical Scientist JobsOptical Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research
- Chemicals & Materials
- Electronics & Hardware
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in optical scientist jobs.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in optical engineering, physics, or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience with optical design software such as Zemax OpticStudio or CODE V
- Demonstrated ability to design, build, and characterize free-space or fiber-based optical systems
- Familiarity with optical metrology tools including interferometers, profilometers, and spectrometers
- Experience with laser systems, including safety protocols and laser classification standards
- Active U.S. security clearance or eligibility to obtain one for defense and government programs
Tips for Your Optical Scientist Job Search
Tailor your resume to system-level work
Recruiters scanning optical scientist resumes look for end-to-end system experience, not just component-level skills. Describe full optical system development from design through test and integration, and call out the specific wavelengths, apertures, or performance specs you worked against.
List your simulation tools explicitly
Zemax OpticStudio, CODE V, FRED, and Oslo each signal different employer ecosystems. List every optical design or stray-light tool you've used in a dedicated skills section, because many applicant tracking systems filter on exact tool names before a human reads your resume.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists optical scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by application domain
Defense and aerospace listings often require clearance eligibility upfront, while medical-device roles emphasize ISO 13485 and FDA design-control experience. Filter your search by industry domain early so you're not customizing applications for roles with hard eligibility barriers you can't clear.
Prepare a build-to-test narrative for interviews
Hiring panels at optical scientist level almost always include a hands-on breadboard or alignment exercise, or ask you to walk through a past testbed design. Prepare a crisp story for one system you built and characterized, covering your error budget assumptions and how measured performance compared to your model.
Negotiate on publication and IP rights
Many optical scientist roles in defense and government-contractor settings include broad IP assignment clauses that cover personal projects. Before signing an offer, review the invention-assignment agreement and ask whether you can carve out any prior work or side research that predates your employment start date.
Optical Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most optical scientists?
The companies hiring the most optical scientists right now include MANTECH, SETI Institute, and Meta, with the largest share of openings in California, Colorado, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Defense contractors, national laboratories, and semiconductor equipment manufacturers consistently account for the largest volume of postings.
How many optical scientist jobs are remote?
About 33% of optical scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, which is lower than the cross-industry average because most roles require access to lab equipment, cleanrooms, or controlled testbeds. Computational optics, optical system modeling, and tolerance analysis roles are the sub-areas most likely to allow remote or hybrid arrangements.
How do you become an optical scientist?
You become an optical scientist by earning at least a bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or electrical engineering, then developing hands-on lab skills through university research, co-ops, or internships. Build proficiency in at least one major optical design tool, work through real system builds from design to test, and pursue graduate study if you want to move into research-heavy or principal-level roles.
How do you get hired as an optical scientist with little experience?
Entry-level optical scientist roles typically go to candidates who can show lab work from a thesis or senior capstone, even if it was small in scope. Document any system you aligned, characterized, or modeled with specific performance numbers. Apply to positions at national laboratories, university spinouts, and small photonics companies, which are more likely to hire new graduates than large defense primes requiring immediate independent contributor output.
What does the optical scientist interview process look like?
The optical scientist interview process typically begins with a recruiter screen focused on background and tool experience, followed by a technical phone interview with a senior engineer covering optical design principles, aberration theory, or error budgeting. Final rounds usually include a panel interview with cross-functional team members and a technical presentation or whiteboard exercise where you walk through a past system design or troubleshooting scenario in detail.
Where can I find and apply to optical scientist jobs?
You can find and apply to optical scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that fit your background, then apply directly to each one that matches your experience and specialization.
See All 21 Optical Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Optical Scientist Jobs