Optical Engineer

Snap Inc.; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Abingdon is seeking an Optical Engineer to design and engineer the next generation of augmented reality hardware. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in inkjet printing and be capable of collaborating across different teams. Responsibilities include developing and optimizing coating processes and collaborating on mass production of AR components. This role emphasizes a strong foundational knowledge in materials science and precision dispensing techniques. Join us to help redefine how people interact with technology.

Benefits

Paid parental leave

Emotional and mental health support

Medical coverage

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with inkjet printing and precision processes.
• Experience in R&D labs or controlled-environment manufacturing.
• Strong grasp of fluid mechanics and surface science.

Responsibilities

• Engineer next-generation AR hardware including high-performance glasses.
• Develop advanced dispensing and coating processes.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with various teams to integrate processes.

Skills

Inkjet printing expertise

Fluid mechanics knowledge

Experimental design abilities

Effective communication

Education

Master’s degree in relevant field

Tools

Industrial printheads

Drop watching systems

Job description

Overview

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. The Company’s three core products are Snapchat, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world; Lens Studio, an augmented reality platform that powers AR across Snapchat and other services; and its AR glasses, Spectacles.

The Spectacles team is pushing the boundaries of technology to bring people closer together in the real world. Our fifth-generation Spectacles, powered by Snap OS, showcase how standalone, see-through AR glasses make playing, learning, and working better together.

Snap’s camera supports real friendships through visual communication, self expression and storytelling. Moving forward, our camera will play a transformative role in how people experience the world around them, combining what they see in the real world, with all that’s available to them in the digital world.

We’re looking for an Optical Engineer to join our team at Snap Inc!

Responsibilities

• Engineer the next generation of augmented reality hardware, designing high-performance AR glasses that blend cutting-edge technology with the real world.
• Collaborate with optics, materials science, and manufacturing to create breakthrough products and scale precision dispensing technologies critical to AR display and component architecture.
• Develop and optimize advanced dispensing and coating processes, with emphasis on inkjet printing and related methods such as jet dispensing, spray coating, dip coating, aerosol jet printing, micro-dispensing, and slot-die as appropriate.
• Own end-to-end process development including tool setup, recipe definition, maintenance, waveform tuning, substrate preparation, curing, and rigorous process control.
• Evaluate and compare dispensing approaches for functional layers (e.g., optical clear adhesives, polymer layers, micro-structured materials).
• Understand rheology, surface tension, wetting, and adhesion of ink/dispense materials and how these characteristics affect method choice and performance.
• Design and implement metrology and characterization capabilities to measure film thickness/uniformity, geometry, surface morphology, alignment, optical performance, and defect modes.
• Analyze process data using DOE, SPC, regression, and yield modeling to drive improvements in uniformity, throughput, repeatability, and yield.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with optical engineering, mechanical design, materials science, reliability, and assembly teams to integrate new dispensing processes in AR module manufacturing.
• Work with internal and external partners to develop tools for scaling up processes for mass production.
• Support long-term process roadmap development, identify technology gaps, and lead evaluations of new dispensing tools or methods for next-generation AR hardware.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Expertise in inkjet printing, including waveform tuning, drop formation dynamics, material compatibility, and print quality control.
• Practical experience with industrial printheads and familiarity with control software and drop watching systems.
• Broad understanding of additional precision dispensing / coating methods such as jet dispensing, micro-dispense, aerosol jet printing, spray coating, dip coating, blade/slot-die coating, or similar techniques.
• Strong foundational grasp of fluid mechanics, surface science, and wetting, and how material properties influence deposition outcomes.
• Good understanding of thin film characterization and metrology, including profilometry, interferometry, reflectometry, optical microscopy, defect inspection, and thickness measurement.
• Strong experimental design, analytical, and problem-solving abilities; capable of independently driving complex R&D investigations from concept to completion.
• An effective communicator who can collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and clearly document processes, findings, and specifications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s (or higher) degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with inkjet printing, dispensing, coating, micro-fabrication, printed electronics, or precision deposition processes.
• Experience working effectively in R&D labs, cleanrooms, or controlled-environment manufacturing settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant discipline or 10+ years of extensive experience in precision dispensing, printed electronics, advanced manufacturing, or display technology.
• Proven experience evaluating and selecting between multiple deposition/coating techniques based on complex material, optical, and mechanical requirements.
• Familiarity with AR/VR optical components, waveguides, nanoimprinting, thin-film deposition, bonding, and dry etching processes.
• Experience in process transfer, successful scale-up to mass production, yield optimization, and implementation of inline metrology.
• If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please don’t be shy and provide us some information.

"Default Together" Policy at Snap: At Snap Inc. we believe that being together in person helps us build our culture faster, reinforce our values, and serve our community, customers and partners better through dynamic collaboration. To reflect this, we practice a “default together” approach and expect our team members to work in an office 4+ days per week.

At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. EOE, including disability/vets.

Our Benefits: Snap Inc. is its own community, so we’ve got your back! We do our best to make sure you and your loved ones have everything you need to be happy and healthy, on your own terms. Our benefits are built around your needs and include paid parental leave, comprehensive medical coverage, emotional and mental health support programs, and compensation packages that let you share in Snap’s long-term success!