Material Engineer na Vuzix Corporation

Description

Position Summary:

The Material Engineer will support the Optics group by leading efforts across R&D, new product development, and production. This role involves developing and characterizing advanced materials for optical applications, ensuring their compatibility with functional and manufacturing requirements. The position reports directly to the Optics group and collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams to drive innovation and technical excellence. This position will also support the functions of the R&D – Optical Department to meet the requirements of the relevant ISO 9001:2015 standards based on the quality objectives established by Top Management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct research on novel technologies and processes to advance high refractive index materials for optical applications.
• Design and execute experiments, analyze data, and validate hypotheses to support new product development.
• Interface with suppliers to evaluate and qualify new materials, analytical equipment, and external services.
• Provide materials engineering expertise to cross-functional project teams, supporting formulation development and integration into manufacturing.
• Lead surface engineering efforts, including adhesion enhancement and release layer technologies.
• Manage the materials lab, ensuring safety compliance, efficient workflows, and strategic planning for capability expansion.
• Report directly to the Optics group and collaborate closely with R&D, production, and interdisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ensure lab safety compliance, efficient workflows, and strategic planning for capability expansion.
• Meets required ISO 9001:2015 standards and necessary training based on the relevant Quality Objectives.

Competencies:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Written Communication – Read and interpret written information effectively, write clearly and concisely, adapt writing style for different audiences.
• Verbal Communication – Give focused attention to what others are saying, take time to understand what and respond when appropriate without interrupting, speak clearly and effectively express ideas and opinions, adapt and react professionally in both positive and negative situations.
• Teamwork & Collaboration – Balance team and individual responsibilities, consider others’ views objectively and with openness to changing your own, give and encourage feedback, contribute to a positive team dynamic, prioritize team success over personal interests, work effectively across departments toward company goals.
• Professionalism – Interact with others in a considerate manner, follow through on commitments, react well under pressure and preserve confidentiality, control emotions, and accept responsibility, maintain focus on solutions and treat others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position. 
• Motivation & Initiative – Demonstrate persistence and ability to adapt to changes in daily workflow and overcome obstacles, ask for and offer help when needed, work independently when required, volunteer readily and look for ways to improve and create successful outcomes, positively contribute to overall work environment. 
• Respect & Integrity – Treat people with respect, work ethically and with honesty and integrity, inspire the trust of others, demonstrate appreciation and sensitivity for cultural differences, help promote inclusion and understanding of the value of diversity, embrace differences and support a harassment-free environment.

Requirements

Minimal Qualifications:

• PhD or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Engineering, Chemistry, and/or Chemical Engineering.
• 0 -5 years of related experience.
• Ability to document work and write reports in English that can convey technical investigation findings.
• Ability to formulate testing protocols for desired material properties, starting with basic analytic capabilities.
• Relevant experience in product development or product testing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to work and communicate within a multidisciplinary team and convey ideas and concepts.
• Leadership experience.
• Technical experience with optics.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Travel: Negligible.

Physical Demands: Frequently required to sit, speak, hear, see, and perform repetitive motion (data entry). Use of PPE (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, respirator) may be required. Ability to work with hazardous/toxic materials if required. Occasionally required to lift or carry (10 lb. minimum). Reasonable accommodations will be made available if applicable.