AR Principal Optical Design Engineer
Trident Consulting is seeking a "AR Principal Optical Design Engineer" for one of our clients. A global leader in business and technology services. Job Description: Job Title: AR Principal Optical Design Engineer Location: San Jose, CA 95134 (Local candidates preferred, but work can be done remotely) Job Type : Contract W2 Pay Rate: $70 – $132/hr on W2 Your Role: Electronics is a recognized global leader in semiconductor and display materials that is expanding into AI-enabled SmartGlasses (SG) and Augmented Reality (AR) devices. We are committed to advancing technology through innovative materials that enhance device performance. As an Optical Design Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in our Silicon Valley initiative focusing on waveguide design optimization, and performance validation. Your expertise will contribute to our understanding of AR/VR technology and how our products can elevate the performance of next-generation devices. Required Skills (Minimum Qualifications)
- Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- 4+ years of industry experience in AR technology–related product design.
- Strong fundamental understanding of diffractive waveguide technology, including waveguide architectures and optical KPIs (efficiency, uniformity, FOV, eyebox, color performance).
- Proven experience designing and developing Polarization Volume Hologram (PVH) waveguides or similar holographic/diffractive waveguide components.
- Hands-on experience in optical simulation methodologies, including RCWA, FDTD, and ray tracing.
- Ability to analyze the impact of material, process, and architectural modifications on waveguide performance.
- Experience supporting closed-loop optical model validation using experimental data.
- Proficiency in scripting or modeling languages (Python, MATLAB) for optical data analysis and simulation.
Preferred Skills (Highly Desirable)
- Experience with commercial optical design and simulation packages such as:
- VirtualLab Fusion
- Zemax OpticStudio
- LightTools
- Code V
- Lumerical
- Strong understanding of AR/VR display system architectures, including exit pupil expansion, combiners, and diffractive/holographic couplers.
- Knowledge of optical characterization methods used for AR/VR metrology (uniformity, brightness/luminance, MTF/PSF, polarization, wavelength, stray light).
- Familiarity with color and perceptual science related to luminance, uniformity, visual artifacts, and human vision performance.
- Experience working with liquid crystal–based optics or related optical materials.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with computational, metrology, integration, and materials engineering teams.
- Ability to interpret optical experiments and translate findings into design improvements.
- Strong innovation mindset with willingness to push boundaries in AR device modeling.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Technical Skill Keywords (Sourcing-Optimized)
- PVH waveguides
- Holographic gratings
- Diffractive optics
- AR waveguide design
- RCWA / FDTD / Ray-tracing simulation
- VirtualLab / Zemax / LightTools / Code V / Lumerical
- Liquid-crystal optics
- Exit pupil expansion (EPE)
- AR display architecture
- Color science / CIE / perceptual optics
- Optical metrology & characterization
- Python / MATLAB for optical modeling
Behavioral & Cross-Functional Skills
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary R&D teams
- Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset
- Clear communication and documentation skills
- Ability to work in fast-paced innovation-driven environments
Trident Consulting is an award-winning IT/engineering staffing company founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Ramon, CA. We specialize in placing high-quality vetted technology and engineering professionals in contract and full-time roles. Trident shines in fulfilling niche/hard-to-fill technical positions, and our commitment is to deliver the best and brightest individuals in the industry for our clients' toughest requirements. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job