Senior Optical Engineer - Mixed Reality Optics and Display Team

Senior Optical Engineer - Mixed Reality Optics and Display Team

In Mixed Reality, people—not devices— are at the center of everything we do. Our tech transcends screens and pixels, creating a new reality aimed at bringing us closer together—whether it's scientists meeting on the surface of a virtual Mars or exploring yet-undreamt-of possibilities. To achieve this, we are incorporating groundbreaking technologies, from the revolutionary Holographic Processing Unit to computer vision, machine learning, human-computer interaction, and more.

Our team is a diverse group of talented engineers, program managers, and artists who are dedicated to putting technology on a human path across all Windows devices, including Microsoft HoloLens, the Internet of Things, phones, tablets, desktops, and Xbox. We value and strive to maintain and grow our diverse backgrounds and unique experiences, as they enable us to build the best solutions for our customers and foster dynamic, joyful collaborations with colleagues.

We are looking for a Senior Optical Engineer to join the Mixed Reality Optics and Display Team. If you are passionate about groundbreaking Mixed Reality technology and want to work on a team dedicated to a culture of inclusion, growth mindset, and collaboration, please join us! Our products incorporate cutting-dge technologies, from HoloLens and the Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) to advanced display technologies, image/video processing, depth sensing, computer vision, machine learning, and human-computer interactions. We bring these technologies to HoloLens and future devices.

The Optics and Display team is at the forefront of developing advanced Mixed Reality products. As part of our team, you will work with a group of talented engineers, tackling challenges in optics and display technology. You will be responsible for optical design, display characterization, optical analysis, and optical simulation for AR (augmented reality) and MR (mixed reality) displays. You will develop and implement optical systems and components to achieve highly efficient display solutions.

Collaboration is key, and you will work with broad cross-functional engineering teams, including electronics, mechanical, systems, product management, and reliability and quality teams. Exploring advanced display technologies, you will collaborate with suppliers to drive progress and deliverables. Your role will involve optimizing display system performance and integration, focusing on optical efficiency, system power, and product ID accommodations to meet customer expectations and timelines.

Location: This role requires on-site work and collaboration at our office and labs in Mountain View, CA, with work-site flexibility of up to 50% work from home. This role is eligible for relocation support.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees, we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for optical design, display characterization, optical analysis, and optical simulation for AR and MR displays.
• Develop and implement optical systems and components to achieve highly efficient display solutions
• Conduct experiments, set up optical test equipment, and troubleshoot issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure optical systems meet design and quality requirements
• Develop scripts and software tools for automating data acquisition and analysis processes
• Evaluate color performance of displays and perform color calibration
• Documenting test procedures, summarizing results, presenting findings to stakeholders and broader teams.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience such as in the optical design and development of micro display technologies.
  • OR Master's degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years technical engineering experience such as in the optical design and development of micro display technologies
  • OR Doctorate degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
  • OR equivalent experience
• Experience in display device physics and optoelectronic device design.
• Experience with device simulation and characterization tools.

Other Requirements

Candidates must be able to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements that are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings

• Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. 

• Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This role will require access to information that is controlled for export under export control regulations, potentially under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations or Export Administration Regulations, the EU Dual Use Regulation, and/or other export control regulations. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of citizenship, U.S. permanent residency, or other protected status (e.g., under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)) for assessment of eligibility to access the export-controlled information.  To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may verify status using other documents, where applicable.

• Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of U.S. citizenship due to citizenship- based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United states federal,state, and/or local(or applicable country) United States government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, citizenship will be verified via a valid passport.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years of technical engineering experience such as in the optical design and development of micro display technologies

o Master's Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years of technical engineering experience such as in the optical design and development of micro display technologies

o Doctorate Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years of technical engineering experience such as in the optical design and development of micro display technologies

o OR equivalent experience

• Experience in the optical design and development of micro displays and advanced system applications, such as LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon), Micro-LED, Laser Beam Scanning, etc.
• Experience with Zemax, Light Tool and FDTD (Finite-Difference Time-Domain) for optical design and simulation. 
• Knowledge of optical components, display systems and measurement techniques, colorimetry and color calibration.
• Experience in AR/MR system and development, understanding key performance matrix and trade-offs.
• Experience with programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW
• Experience in government projects and ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) import/export regulations.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Hands-on experience in setting up optical test equipment, conducting experiments and troubleshooting issues.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Experience documenting test procedures, summarizing results, presenting findings to stakeholders and broader teams. 

Optical Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $117,200 - $229,200 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $153,600 - $250,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until November 19, 2024

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.