Sr. Director, Advanced Equipment Development - Optical Waveguide Manufacturing

A new paradigm of computing

Magic Leap is a pioneer in Augmented Reality (AR) optics, display systems, platforms, devices services, prototyping and manufacturing capabilities. We are known for our unmatched optics stack and have developed ultra-lightweight waveguides and display systems that advance what is possible in AR. With more than a decade of experience in AR innovation, we have made groundbreaking advancements in text legibility, color fidelity and rich digital content visuals while continually expanding the field of view to create engaging, immersive AR experiences. 

Magic Leap could be your place if you want to be part of a united team where everyone is empowered and trusted to make an impact. At Magic Leap, you can explore innovative solutions and use your talents to solve real-world problems. Working alongside industry experts, you can grow your skills while helping make our technology available to millions of people as a partner in the mixed reality (XR) ecosystem.  We know that successful change and progress accelerates diverse perspectives. As we shape our future, everyone's voice matters. Together, we can reimagine the world of work and, with our bold partners, make the impossible possible.

The opportunity 

Magic Leap is seeking a highly experienced and visionary Sr. Director of Advanced Equipment Development to lead the innovation, development and delivery of next-generation manufacturing tools critical for the creation of optical waveguides at a wafer level. Our company is a recognized leader in the Augmented Reality (AR) waveguide industry, and this role is central to maintaining our technological edge by inventing and perfecting proprietary equipment and processes.

The successful candidate will manage a team of world-class engineers and scientists focused on the full lifecycle of advanced equipment technologies, from concept and design to integration into high-volume manufacturing environments

Location: This position requires being fully on-site at our Austin, TX facility, to ensure seamless collaboration and hands-on support for daily operations, with an expectancy of 10-20% of travel. Relocation assistance is available for non-local candidates.

What you’ll do 

• Leadership & Strategy: Define and execute the strategic roadmap for advanced semiconductor equipment development, ensuring alignment with the company's AR waveguide product roadmap and overall business objectives.


• Team Management: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of engineers (mechanical, electrical, software) and process scientists, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence.


• Equipment Development: Oversee the design, development, and qualification of complex, high-precision equipment specifically tailored for wafer-level optical waveguide manufacturing processes.


• Equipment Manufacturing: Oversee the operational aspects of our equipment manufacturing facility. Assure equipment development, qualification and delivery schedules align to business objectives


• Process Integration: Collaborate closely with process development teams to ensure new equipment seamlessly integrates with and enables next-generation lithography, etching, and measurement techniques for waveguides.


• Technology Innovation: Drive continuous improvement and invention of proprietary equipment solutions, specifically targeting challenges in high-resolution patterning, tight CD control, and defect reduction for optical elements.


• Operational Excellence: Establish rigorous project management practices, budget controls, and safety protocols for all equipment development and deployment activities.


• Vendor Management: Manage external vendors and partners for co-development and procurement of critical equipment sub-systems.

The experience you bring

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in the semiconductor capital equipment industry, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or management role overseeing equipment development teams.


• Deep technical expertise in the design, build, and deployment of complex, high-throughput manufacturing equipment used in wafer processing.


• Proven track record of taking cutting-edge R&D concepts through to high-volume manufacturing (HVM) readiness.


• Strong understanding of metrology and process control systems within a semiconductor fabrication environment.


• Excellent project management, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.


• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Materials Science) or a related technical field.

It’s exciting if you also have

• Significant experience in the manufacturing of optical components or systems, particularly planar optical waveguides, diffractive optical elements (DOE), or micro-optics.


• Expertise in advanced plasma etching processes (e.g., RIE, ICP-RIE, ALE) as they relate to high aspect ratio features and low-damage etching of dielectric or semiconductor materials used in waveguides.


• In-depth knowledge of advanced lithography techniques (e.g., Nanoimprint, DUV, E-beam) and the associated equipment necessary for fine-pitch patterning of optical structures.


• Familiarity with optical metrology and measurement methods (e.g., scatterometry, reflectometry, profilometry, AFM) for critical dimension (CD) and feature analysis of optical surfaces.


• Experience leading equipment programs with complex optical alignment and handling requirements.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to Equal Employment Opportunities guidelines.

Please note that we do not accept any application documents via (e-)mail. Furthermore, we do not accept applications from recruitment agencies for this role.

All legitimate Magic Leap email communications will end with "@magicleap.com". Please carefully review all emails you receive, to ensure you only engage with legitimate representatives of Magic Leap. For the protection of your Personal Information, do not click any links, open any attachments, or further engage with any suspicious communications. In the event you receive an unexpected or suspicious communication claiming to come from Magic Leap, please reach out directly to [email protected] for assistance.

Accommodations

If you need an accommodation during the application, interviewing, or hiring process, you may request an accommodation by emailing [email protected]. Magic Leap will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.

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