As an Aerospace Transparency Optics Engineer, you will specialize in the optical engineering of transparent materials, with a focus on the design and optimization of cockpit windshields and fighter jet transparencies. Your responsibilities will include advanced analysis and enhancement of optical performance parameters such as composite material uniformity to ensure accurate ray tracing and straight light propagation, surface planarization, and reduction of optical aberrations. You will work to improve the detection and understanding of light interaction with multi-layered transparent materials, ensuring excellent clarity, minimal distortion, and compliance with stringent aerospace optical standards.

This position is based on-site at the Sylmar, CA facility and reports to the Plant Operations Engineering Manager.

Responsibilities:

• Research and Development: Conduct research to enhance existing transparency systems, materials, and manufacturing processes. This includes developing advanced optical polishing techniques, automation solutions, and vision systems to improve process capabilities and reduce variability.

• Design and Analysis: Design, simulate, and analyze optical outcomes resulting from various fabrication and polishing processes, inspection techniques, and other critical variables to drive continuous improvement. This includes engaging with industry partners and experts to evaluate and enhance inspection methods, ensuring the highest standards of optical quality and process reliability.

• Testing and Validation: Conduct experimental testing and simulations to validate optical enhancement methods, ensuring they meet or exceed performance specifications.

• Problem-Solving: Identify and resolve optical issues such as distortion, lensing, or light deviation that adversely affect the optical clarity and visibility of transparent components.

• Collaboration: Work closely with tooling, manufacturing, process, and quality engineers to optimize and integrate supporting processes that enhance optical performance. This includes contributing to projects such as thermoplastic forming improvements and other manufacturing initiatives that impact transparency quality.

• Documentation and Reporting: Prepare detailed technical reports, documentation, and data analyses to effectively communicate findings, progress, and recommendations.

• Staying Updated: Maintain current knowledge of advancements in optical technologies and industry trends to inform and enhance engineering processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or greater in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field is required.

• Five (5) or more years of related experience required.

• Strong knowledge of geometric and physical optics, including aberrations, ray tracing, and visual perception related to light behavior in transparent materials preferred.

• Software Proficiency: Experience with optical design and simulation software such as Zemax, Code V, or Light Tools preferred.

• Proficiency in data processing and analysis using languages like MATLAB, Python, or Mathcad preferred.

• Hands-on experience with optical fabrication processes (e.g., polishing, coating) and metrology equipment (e.g., interferometers, spectrophotometers).

• Only U.S. Citizens, Green Card holders, and political asylees or refugees are eligible to apply.

The base salary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000, with a possibility of an annual bonus up to 7% of base salary. PPG offers comprehensive benefits such as Health, Dental, Life, Retirement Plan, Paid Vacation & Holidays, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Disability/Leave, and other Voluntary benefit offerings. Actual benefit offerings confirmed at the time of hire.

About us:

Here at PPG we make it happen, and we seek candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our values, with the commitment and drive to strive today to do better than yesterday – everyday.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™

Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com and follow @ PPG on Twitter.

At PPG we use AI in the hiring process to make the process more efficient. AI tools do not make hiring decisions. You can learn more by going to https://careers.ppg.com/us/en/candidate-resources.

PPG provides equal opportunity to all candidates and employees. We offer an opportunity to grow and develop your career in an environment that provides a fulfilling workplace for employees, creates an environment for continuous learning, and embraces the ideas and diversity of others. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, pregnancy, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability status, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. If you need an adjustment due to a disability, please email recruiting@ppg.com.

PPG values your feedback on our recruiting process. We encourage you to visit Glassdoor.com and provide feedback on the process, so that we can do better today than yesterday.

Benefits will be discussed with you by your recruiter during the hiring process.

PPG pay ranges and benefits can vary by location which allows us to compensate employees competitively in different geographic markets. PPG considers several factors in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, qualifications and education, licensure and certifications, and other organizational needs. Other incentives may apply.

Our employee benefits programs are designed to support the health and well-being of our employees. Any insurance coverages and benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.