Research Scientist Intern, Diffractive Optics; PhD

Overview

Meta Reality Labs brings together a world‑class team of researchers, developers, and engineers to create the future of virtual and augmented reality, which together will become as universal and essential as smartphones and personal computers are today. And just as personal computers have done over the past 45 years, AR and VR will ultimately change everything about how we work, play, and connect.

We are seeking a Research Scientist Intern with a background in Nanophotonics to join our research team. The intern will contribute to developing the next generation of AR/VR displays by focusing on advanced simulations and experimental optics prototyping. This is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers and contribute to research with direct application to future product development. Our internships are twelve (12) to twenty‑four (24) weeks long and we have various start dates throughout the year.

• Collaborate with researchers and cross‑functional partners, including communicating research plans, progress, and results effectively.
• Contribute to product research or development, and present findings that can be applied to future Meta products.
• Develop next generation AR displays or components with an emphasis on advanced simulations, and working toward experimental optics prototyping with the team to prove new concepts and understand the factors that impact them.
• Collaborate with the larger Meta Reality Labs Products team to explore novel solution spaces for AR devices.
• Explore the application of at least one of the following to AR displays: wave optics, polarization optics, diffraction optics, interference phenomenon, metasurfaces.

• Currently has or is in the process of obtaining a PhD in the field of Optical Science, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a relevant technical field
• Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment
• 2+ years of experience in at least one of the following areas: nanophotonics, diffractive optics, wave optics, computational optics or optical system prototyping
• Proficiency with at least one programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, Python, etc.)
• Intent to return to the degree program after the completion of the internship/co‑op

• Experience working and communicating cross‑functionally in a team environment
• 2+ years of experience with optical simulation methods such as FDFD, FDTD, FEM, RCWA, FMM, etc
• 2+ years of experience using photonic modeling software such as Lumerical, COMSOL, CST, or other custom codebase
• 2+ years of experience developing or implementing various algorithms for optimization of optical devices, including heuristic algorithms, adjoint variable gradient based methods, inverse design, or neural networks
• Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by first‑authored publications in leading journal families such as Nature, Science, Physical Review, Optica, ACS, SPIE, IEEE, or at conferences such as CLEO, SPIE Photonics West, FiO+LS, or similar as well as grants, fellowships, patents, etc

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and Whats App further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affiantive Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression,…