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

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.