Director of Optics

The role

The Director of Optics leads the Optics Department and scales the optical engineering function for augmented reality systems. This senior leadership role manages optics strategy, organization design, program execution, and cross-functional delivery.

What you will do

• Lead, mentor, and grow the Optics Department across multiple sites.
• Define and own the optics technology roadmap.
• Create role clarity, decision rights, and an org structure.
• Drive recruiting efforts to attract elite optical talent.
• Build structured growth plans for team members.
• Provide technical oversight and design review for AR headset optics.
• Guide trade studies across various optical performance metrics.
• Establish technical standards for optical tolerancing and metrology.
• Own the optical program lifecycle from requirements to fielding.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to integrate optical requirements.

Required qualifications

• M.S., Ph.D., or equivalent industry experience in Optical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related technical field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience developing complex optical systems.
• 5+ years leading optical engineers, technical leads, technicians, metrology personnel, or cross-functional hardware teams.
• Demonstrated ability to take optical systems from concept through prototype, validation, production transition, customer integration, and continuous improvement.
• Strong technical credibility in optical architecture, optical tolerancing, metrology, image quality, MTF, distortion, stray light, radiometry, photometry, display performance, or headset characterizat
• Practical experience reviewing or guiding work in optical design and analysis tools such as Code V, Zemax OpticStudio, Python, MATLAB, FRED, LightTools, JMP, or equivalent engineering toolchains.
• Experience building scalable engineering processes.
• Proven ability to partner with Product, Manufacturing, Software, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and external suppliers.
• Strong executive communication skills.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Must be eligible for and willing to obtain a security clearance.

Nice to have

• Experience with ultra-wide-FOV AR systems, freeform combiners, waveguides, holographic optical elements, polarization volume holograms, holographic backlights, or laser/display illumination architectu
• Experience with LCoS, MicroLED, DMD, laser backlights, polarization optics, display color calibration, color uniformity, or human visual system modeling.
• Hands-on background with optical metrology platforms such as interferometry, MTF measurement, distortion mapping, radiometry, photometry, calibration pipelines, and headset characterization.
• Experience with optical manufacturing methods such as diamond turning, injection molding, thin-film coatings, holographic recording, first-article inspection, incoming inspection, SPC, and yield impro
• Experience with eye-tracking optics, including illumination architecture, pupil imaging, pupil replication, and integration with gaze estimation pipelines.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, military training systems, SBIR/STTR environments, or venture-backed hardware companies.
• Experience building distributed teams across multiple locations.

Benefits

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision (100% coverage for Employees)
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick, paid holidays, and parental leave
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Voluntary Worksite Benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity)
• May be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus based on individual and company performance, subject to plan terms.

Before you apply

• U.S. citizenship required
• Must be eligible for and willing to obtain a security clearance

About the company

Red 6 is an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) technology startup leading the way in synthetic air combat training.