Senior Optical Research Engineer

As a Senior Optical Engineer at Warby Parker, you will be a lead technical architect for the lens stacks that power our emerging smart glasses product line. You will lead research and development of prescription lens stacks integrating crisp near eye displays while prioritizing excellent vision correction. Your mission is to deliver world-class vision correction within a form factor that is nearly indistinguishable from conventional eyewear. This role serves as a vital bridge between high-precision optics and cutting edge consumer electronics. By mastering the intersection of compound optics and ophthalmic requirements, you will ensure our "Smart RX" products meet the highest standards of visual clarity. You will act as a key technical voice for the company, building direct relationships with engineering peers at our global partners and vendors to drive the next generation of wearable technology.What you’ll doAnalyze proposed lens designs with a focus on how they integrate with waveguide displays and internal assembly and aesthetic constraints.Partner with Product and Industrial Design teams to balance optical performance with the aesthetic goals of the frames.Collaborate closely with Vision Science, Quality and Manufacturing teams to understand, develop, and validate complex assembly strategies.Develop and test new lens stack concepts that enable low-profile display integration while maintaining an uncompromising focus on vision correction.Recommend and support QA systems for RX requirements to ensure every pair of smart glasses meets industry best practices and ophthalmic standards.Serve as a key technical collaborator in 1:1 interactions with optical engineers and lens designers at external partners and vendors.Utilize and recommend strategic upgrades for in-house lens characterization tools Participate in limited domestic and international travel to partner and vendor sites to oversee technical development and prototyping.Participate in design for manufacturing (DFM) reviews to ensure product manufacturability.Support compliance with safety standards and quality regulations.Who you areBacked by a Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field (MS or PhD preferred).3+ years of professional experience in optical design and engineering, preferably in consumer electronics or medical applications.Demonstrated experience in optical design for imaging systems.Expert proficiency in optical modeling and simulation software such as Zemax or similar.A strong technical communicator able to build and maintain relationships with external engineering peers and internal cross-functional teams.Comfortable navigating the ambiguity of early-stage R&D while maintaining a focus on technical excellence.Not on the Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE)Preferred Qualifications5+ years of experience in the consumer electronics or wearable technology industry.Master’s or PhD in Optical Engineering or Physics with a focus on near-eye displays.Direct experience with ophthalmic lens design and an understanding of the requirements of prescription vision correction.Experience with near-eye display integration and the unique stray-light or MTF challenges of AR optics.Familiarity with specialized lab metrology and advanced lens characterization equipment.Experience collaborating with international suppliers and high-volume manufacturing partners.