Principal Optical Engineer

Top Horizontal Menu Skip to main content Alt + 1 Skip to page footer Alt + 2 Menu , Home Page Options Jobs Location Search Assistance Sign In Hide sub menu Hide Dashboard Alerts Accessibility Home My Dashboard Job Details Top Job Details Here are the details for the selected job. You may need to scroll down to see all the information about the job, including the job description. If you wish to apply for this job click on the Apply button.

WARNING:

Always be on the lookout for job scams! Learn more about identity theft Opens in new window Help information , opens a new window. Info First Job Previous Job 406 of 6,523 Next Job Last Job Share More Like This Between $170k and $215k Per Year DOE (Depends on Experience) Principal Optical Engineer Red 6 Technologies LLC

Occupation:

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Location:

Santa Monica, CA - 90405 Positions available: 1 Job #: 19844927

Source:

CalJOBS

Posted:

03/20/2026

Updated:

03/21/2026

Expires:

05/26/2027

Web Site:

CalJOBS Onsite /

Remote:

Work onsite all of the time

Job Type:

Regular, Full Time (30 Hours or More), Permanent Employment Job Requirements and Properties Help for Job Requirements and Properties. Opens a new window. Work Onsite Full Time Education Master's Degree Experience 240 Month(s) Schedule Full Time Job Type Regular Duration Permanent Employment Public Transit Available Benefits Job Description Help for Job Description. Opens a new window. The Role Red 6 is seeking a highly skilled and creative Principal Optical Engineer to lead the Optics Department in developing innovative optical systems for augmented reality (AR) headsets and future technologies. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing cutting-edge optical architectures, including ultra-wide field-of-view systems, as well as pioneering new solutions for upcoming R D projects. The role involves developing optical characterization and measurement equipment, following the manufacturing process through to the end, and assisting with customer integration and the continuous improvement feedback cycle.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead Optical Engineering Projects:

Oversee the design and development of ultra-wide field-of-view field AR headsets and other optical architectures for unknown future R D projects, ensuring Red 6 stays at the forefront of optical innovation.

R D and Proof of Concept Development:

Lead rapid prototyping efforts for proof of concept and experimental designs, applying creative problem-solving to address complex optical challenges.

Optical Characterization & Measurement Development:

Design and implement optical characterization and measurement equipment to ensure precision in system evaluation and facilitate smooth transitions from R D to manufacturing. Optical Design for

Manufacturing:

Ensure seamless transfer of optical designs into manufacturing, while maintaining oversight throughout the entire manufacturing process to guarantee product quality.

Customer Integration & Continuous Improvement:

Assist with the integration of optical systems into customer products and follow through with a continuous improvement feedback cycle, ensuring that products evolve and improve post-deployment based on customer needs and performance data.

Supplier Management:

Collaborate with international suppliers to source, test, and integrate high-precision optical components, ensuring quality control and timely delivery throughout the production process.

AR Systems & Display Technologies Expertise:

Leverage knowledge of augmented reality systems, display, and backlight technologies to optimize and innovate optical designs for AR headsets.

Creative Problem-Solving:

Use out-of-the-box thinking to develop solutions for complex optical challenges, contributing to Red 6's reputation as a leader in optical design for AR and other future technologies.

Key Skills & Qualifications:

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field. 10+ years of experience in optical design, particularly in augmented reality systems or similar fields. Expertise in Code V, Zemax, and experience in optical metrology and hands-on optical R D. Experience in Solidworks software and designing for manufacturability. Demonstrated ability to manage and lead complex projects from concept through to customer integration. Must possess a high degree of creativity and problem-solving capability for optical design challenges. Qualified candidates must have the ability to obtain a security clearance. This requires U.S.

Citizenship Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in the design and development of AR system optics, including hardware integration. Familiarity with manufacturing processes and quality control in optical system production. Proven ability to rapidly prototype and iterate optical designs in an R D setting. Experience with display and backlight technologies in augmented reality or related optical systems. Proficient in programming languages such as Python, C++, with a focus on optical development. Red 6 Technologies LLC Is a Private Sector employer with 3 locations https://www.red6ar.com

Company Profile:

About Us - Red Six (red6ar.com) Feed | LinkedIn 50-99 employees Connect with Red 6 Technologies LLC Other Local Jobs from Red 6 Technologies LLC Help for Other Local Jobs from. Opens a new window. Change to Grid view Play Carousel Previous Slide Next Slide Slide 1 Slide 2 Senior Backend Engineer Red 6 Technologies LLC Santa Monica, CA Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians Regular | $150,000.00-$180,000.00 Year Preferred Employer 4 weeks ago The Role Red 6 is seeking a highly experienced Senior Backend Software Engineer to join our dynamic team in Santa Monica, CA. The Senior Backend Software Engineer will develop the services, APIs, and core system components that power ATARS, Red 6's augmented reality system that integrates synthetic, threat-relevant training into live flights for fighter pilots. This role focuses on building the backend systems that support the desktop applications used to plan and configure AR training scenarios and to debrief ATARS flights. The engineer will develop production services responsible for scenario planning, real-time session state management, telemetry ingestion, and the data platforms that enable post-flight review and analysis. In addition to core backend engineering responsibilities such as authentication, data modeling, performance optimization, and system monitoring, the Senior Backend Software Engineer will productionize LLM-enabled capabilities when appropriate. These capabilities may include tool and action execution, workflow orchestration, retrieval systems, and tracing for AI-assisted workflows. The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional engineering teams to deliver reliable, secure, and high-performance backend systems supporting mission-critical pilot training environments. Responsibilities Design and develop backend services, APIs, and core system components that support ATARS training operations. Build and maintain production systems for scenario planning, real-time session state management, and telemetry ingestion. Develop backend data services and infrastructure that power post-flight training review and analysis workflows. Design and implement secure, scalable backend architectures including authentication systems, data models, and service integrations. Productionize LLM-enabled backend capabilities such as tool and action execution, workflow orchestration, and retrieval systems. Implement robust observability and tracing capabilities for AI-assisted workflows and backend services. Ensure backend services meet high standards for performance, reliability, and security in mission-critical environments. Collaborate with frontend, platform, and systems engineering teams to integrate backend services with ATARS training systems. Identify and resolve defects in backend systems and distributed service architectures. Support CI/CD workflows and modern development practices for production software delivery. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline. 5+ years of professional experience as a Backend or Full Stack Software Engineer. Demonstrated experience and strong conviction around AI coding agents/tools (e.g., Codex, Claude Code). Experience shipping production backend features using AI tools in a professional PR and CI workflow. Strong backend proficiency in Python, including experience building performant, reliable, and scalable systems. Proven experience developing and maintaining RESTful services, backend APIs, and data-driven application logic. Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills in backend and distributed systems. Proficiency using Git version control. Qualified candidate must have the ability to obtain a security clearance. This requires U.S. Citizenship Preferred Qualifications Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline. Experience building AI-native backend capabilities, including LLM-backed services with tool and action execution, workflow orchestration, tracing, monitoring, evaluation frameworks, and quality metrics. Experience implementing safe rollout mechanisms such as feature flags and kill switches. Proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript and single-page application frameworks such as React. Experience developing and operating software in Linux environments. Experience building systems for military, aerospace, or defense environments. Experience with model fine-tuning and reinforcement learning (RL). Experience with containerization technologies, preferably Docker. Experience with geospatial data systems. Experience with augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) platforms. General Requirements (Outer) Skills (Inner) Specialized (Center) 0% Occupation 0% Education 0% Work Experience 0% Location 0% Salary N/A Job Skills N/A Shift N/A Min. Age N/A Drivers Lic. N/A DL Endorsements N/A Typing N/A Security Clearance N/A Language This chart is used to compare your background against this job to help to determine if you would be a good fit for this position. You match 0% of the General Job Requirements. You match 0% of the Skills Required, and you match 0% of the Specialized Job Requirements. End of interactive chart. View Share Senior Frontend Engineer Red 6 Technologies LLC Santa Monica, CA Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians Regular | $150,000.00-$180,000.00 Year Preferred Employer 4 weeks ago Company Overview Red 6 is an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) technology startup leading the way in synthetic air combat training. Our primary technology, supporting our ATARS product, enables pilots to simulate the cognitive challenges of flying while accessing realistic, scalable training in dynamic outdoor environments. The Role Red 6 is seeking a highly experienced Senior Frontend Software Engineer to join our dynamic team in Santa Monica, CA. The Senior Frontend Software Engineer will develop operator- and instructor-facing applications that power ATARS, Red 6's augmented reality system that integrates synthetic, threat-relevant training into live flights for fighter pilots. This role focuses on building the desktop applications used to plan and configure AR training scenarios and to debrief ATARS flights. The engineer will develop real-time user interfaces that support training operations, including live system state, scenario controls, telemetry visualization, and post-flight review and replay workflows. In addition to core frontend engineering responsibilities such as performance optimization, accessibility, and maintainable UI architecture, the Senior Frontend Software Engineer will contribute to LLM-enabled product capabilities by implementing trustworthy copilot user experiences, guided workflows, approval mechanisms, and transparent step-by-step outputs. The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional engineering teams to deliver reliable, mission-critical software supporting advanced pilot training systems. Responsibilities Develop operator- and instructor-facing frontend applications that support ATARS training operations. Design and implement desktop user interfaces used to plan, configure, and debrief AR training scenarios. Build real-time UI systems that visualize live state, telemetry, and scenario controls during training sessions. Develop post-flight analysis and replay workflows for training review and performance evaluation. Implement LLM-driven product features using robust UX patterns such as structured outputs, transparent step-by-step execution, and clear user control for higher-stakes actions. Design copilot-style workflows that include action approvals, guided steps, and clear user feedback. Ensure frontend application performance, accessibility, stability, and maintainability. Collaborate with backend and platform engineers to integrate real-time data pipelines and system interfaces. Identify and resolve defects in complex web applications and contribute to code quality through reviews and testing. Support CI/CD workflows and modern development practices for production software delivery. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline. 5+ years of professional experience as a Frontend Engineer. Demonstrated experience and strong conviction around AI coding agents/tools (e.g., Codex, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot) . Experience shipping production frontend features using AI tools in a professional PR and CI workflow. Experience building LLM-driven product features with strong UX patterns such as structured outputs, transparent step-by-step behavior, robust error handling and fallbacks, and clear user control for higher-stakes actions. Strong experience building modern frontend applications in TypeScript and React, with a track record of shipping maintainable UI architecture, performance improvements, and high-quality user experiences. Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills in complex web applications. Proficiency using Git version control. Qualified candidate must have the ability to obtain a security clearance. This requires U.S. Citizenship Preferred Qualifications Masters's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline. Experience implementing agentic UX patterns, including copilot flows, action approvals, streaming outputs, and transparent AI workflow visibility. Familiarity with instrumentation and evaluation for AI-driven UX, including tracing or replay, quality metrics, and safe rollout controls such as feature flags and kill switches. Experience developing real-time user interfaces using technologies such as WebSockets or streaming data architectures. Experience with containerization technologies, preferably Docker. Experience with geospatial data systems Experience building systems for military, aerospace, or defense environments Experience with augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) platforms Full-Time Employee Benefits Healthcare, Dental, and Vision (100% coverage for Employees) Paid time off, including vacation, sick, paid holidays, and parental leave Short and Long-Term Disability Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 401(k) Retirement Plan Voluntary Worksite Benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity) General Requirements (Outer) Skills (Inner) Specialized (Center) 0% Occupation 0% Education 0% Work Experience 0% Location 0% Salary N/A Job Skills N/A Shift N/A Min. Age N/A Drivers Lic. N/A DL Endorsements N/A Typing N/A Security Clearance N/A Language This chart is used to compare your background against this job to help to determine if you would be a good fit for this position. You match 0% of the General Job Requirements. You match 0% of the Skills Required, and you match 0% of the Specialized Job Requirements. End of interactive chart. View Share See all jobs from Red 6 Technologies LLC Location/Work Site Information Help for Location/Work Site Information. Opens a new window. Cost of Living Calculator Help for Cost of Living Calculator. Opens a new window. Compensation and Benefits Help for Compensation and Benefits. Opens a new window. Job Type and Required Hours Help for Job Type and Required Hours. Opens a new window. Work Experience Help for Work Experience. Opens a new window. Education and Training Help for Education and Training. Opens a new window. Skills Required Help for Skills Required. Opens a new window. Occupation Information for Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians Help for Occupation Information for Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians. Opens a new window. Other Jobs and Employers Career Ladder Help for Career Ladder. Opens a new window. Personal Requirements Help for Personal Requirements. Opens a new window. Nature of the Work Help for Nature of the Work. Opens a new window. Work Values and Activities Help for Work Values and Activities. Opens a new window. Change Job Search Criteria Print Job Order Opens in new window [ Do you have a comment or concern about this job posting? ] About Sign In / Register Home Site Map Site Search Explore CalJOBS Settings Accessibility Statement Preferred Settings Page Preferences Languages Services For Individuals For Employers Labor Market Mobile App Legal Privacy Statement Terms of Use Disclaimer Equal Employment Opportunity Resources Protect Yourself Assistance CalJOBS Contact Us Statewide Sacramento, CA 94280 Copyright © 1998-2026 Geographic Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Virtual OneStop® - VOS Sapphire AI v24