Staff Near-Eye Display Waveguide Designer, Imaging and Vision

Staff Near-Eye Display Waveguide Designer, Imaging and Vision

Be part of a team that pushes boundaries, developing custom silicon solutions that power the future of Google's direct-to-consumer products. You'll contribute to the innovation behind products loved by millions worldwide. Your expertise will shape the next generation of hardware experiences, delivering unparalleled performance, efficiency, and integration.

The Platforms and Devices team encompasses Google's various computing software platforms across environments (desktop, mobile, applications), as well as our first party devices and services that combine the best of Google AI, software, and hardware. Teams across this area research, design, and develop new technologies to make our user's interaction with computing faster and more seamless, building innovative experiences for our users around the world.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $174,000-$258,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Learn more about benefits at Google.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a specialized field (e.g., Optics, Sensors, Audio/DSP, etc.), or equivalent practical experience.
• 6 years of experience working in a near-eye displays and waveguide technical environment.
• 3 years of experience in technical leadership.
• Experience with optical design and simulation software such as RCWA, Zemax/ CodeV, LightTools, Lumerical, and MATLAB/Python for data analysis and modeling.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in optical system design for consumer electronics, with experience specifically in near-eye displays and waveguide technology.
• Experience in diffractive optics, nanophotonics, and waveguide theory.
• Experience with optical metrology techniques and laboratory equipment for characterizing display and waveguide performance.
• Experience in delivering optical designs from research and development into mass-produced products.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and simulation of nano-photonic waveguide combiners for near-eye displays, defining and optimizing key performance metrics such as eye box, efficiency, and uniformity etc.
• Use custom and commercial optical simulation software to model and analyze complex diffractive waveguide. Be the expert on waveguide optimization, waveguide material properties and process capabilities.
• Design and oversee the execution of optical metrology experiments to characterize and validate waveguide prototypes, establishing clear correlations between nanostructure fabrication and macroscopic performance.
• Collaborate with internal and external fabrication teams to define and improve waveguide manufacturing processes, providing critical feedback to ensure manufacturability and high-volume production yields.
• Stay at the forefront of waveguide technology, identifying and exploring novel optical architectures and materials.