Optical Additive Manufacturing Materials Process Engineer

We are seeking an experienced product and manufacturing engineer with experience in lens industrial manufacturing processes (e.g., anti-reflective coating, lamination, wet coating processes etc.) to drive product validation, development from concept to mass production in Asia together with manufacturing vendors and suppliers. The candidate will have demonstrated knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, process risks, and quality control, along with a proven track record in launching industrial products through collaboration with Chinese vendors and contract manufacturers (CMs).You will serve as the technical bridge between global R&D and local manufacturing, ensuring process robustness, quality, and scalability throughout the end-to-end process flow.

Optical Additive Manufacturing Materials Process Engineer Responsibilities:

• Lead product development/scaling up in China, ensuring seamless integration of materials, processes, and quality control while working closely with local vendors, contract manufacturers, and global teams
• Drive process optimization for lens manufacturing (e.g., anti-reflective coating, lamination, wet processes) to improve yield, efficiency, and quality at supplier/CM sites
• Conduct on-site technical reviews with vendors to troubleshoot process issues, qualify materials, and validate production readiness
• Identify and mitigate process risks in manufacturing, ensuring robust and scalable production through PFMEA and other methodologies
• Collaborate with global R&D, engineering, production teams, and Chinese suppliers to understand product requirements and translate them into manufacturable solutions
• Develop and execute proof-of-concept (POC) projects, exploring materials and processes to enhance product performance
• Work closely with suppliers and equipment vendors to evaluate new technologies for lens manufacturing
• Lead design for manufacturability (DFM) reviews to ensure smooth transition from prototype to mass production
• Establish quality control standards and process validation protocols to meet industry and customer specifications together with vendors
• Support new product introductions (NPI), troubleshooting process issues during ramp-up and ensuring on-time delivery
• Travel extensively (more than 60% within China) to CM/supplier sites for process validation, troubleshooting, and production support
• Stay updated on emerging trends in lens materials, coatings, and advanced manufacturing technologies

• Bachelor in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry or related field
• 5+ years in lens, optical products or consumer electronics manufacturing with expertise in coatings, lamination, wet processes, and curing technologies
• Proven experience working with Chinese vendors/CMs - familiarity with local supply chain dynamics is a must
• Demonstrated experience of understanding of product requirements, material properties, and process-materials-property-performance relationships
• Hands-on experience with process development, scale-up, and quality control in an industrial setting
• Mindset and skills to think out-of-the-box for POC development while maintaining a detail-oriented approach
• Big-picture thinking - ability to align technical decisions with business and product launch goals
• Demonstrated experience of problem-solving, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Demonstrated experience in failure mode analysis, root cause investigation, and problem solving for product yield and quality issues
• Experience in design reviews, tolerance analysis, and FMEA and DFM reviews
• Professional working proficiency in Mandarin and English (technical and business-level) is a must
• Willingness to travel frequently (up to 60%) across China

• Experience on hard coating and anti-reflective coating process is a big plus
• Experience with inkjet deposition, UV-curable 3D printing, or other advanced coating technologies
• Experience of high-precision equipment design and manufacturing based on process and materials requirement
• Broad network and experience in lens/optical component-related materials industry
• Experience of working with teams located in Europe
• Experience in traditional ophthalmic industry
• Experience in the consumer electronics industry, especially focus on materials engineering and process
• Experience launching products into mass production - NPI experience is a big plus