Senior Optical Scientist

Requisition Number: 79108

The company built on breakthroughs. ​  
Join us.​                    

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.  ​  

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations – not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company, and the world, forward. ​  

​At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.​   

Come break through with us.  

Corning’s businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. We are changing the world with: 

• Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
• Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected
• Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light
• Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences 
• Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation 
• Solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules, enabling low-cost solar energy solutions

Role Purpose

The Optical Scientist will support Gorilla Glass Development by developing, operating, and improving optical measurement methods for chemically strengthened glass. As part of the IOX Metrology Group, this role focuses on hands-on experimental work to characterize stress-related optical behavior in glass materials.

The successful candidate will have practical experience in optics laboratory environments, including the design, assembly, alignment, operation, and troubleshooting of optical measurement setups. This role requires a strong understanding of polarization optics, birefringence, retardation, and optical characterization techniques, along with the ability to generate reliable experimental data and communicate findings clearly.

This is a laboratory-focused role well suited to an individual who enjoys building experiments, improving measurement capability, solving instrumentation issues, and partnering with technical teams to support materials and process development.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, align, operate, and maintain experimental optical laboratory setups for characterization of glass materials.
• Perform optical measurements related to stress, birefringence, retardation, refractive index, and waveguiding behavior in chemically strengthened glass.
• Support the development and improvement of optical metrology methods used for ion exchange (IOX) process characterization.
• Apply polarization-based measurement techniques to evaluate transparent materials and identify stress-related optical effects.
• Prepare samples, conduct experiments, collect data, and ensure measurements are completed safely, accurately, and consistently.
• Troubleshoot optical instruments, laboratory hardware, alignment issues, data-quality concerns, and measurement-method limitations.
• Improve the repeatability, accuracy, throughput, and robustness of existing optical measurement techniques.
• Analyze experimental data and summarize results using appropriate plots, reports, and technical documentation.
• Work with materials, process, and product-development teams to correlate optical measurements with glass composition, processing conditions, and material performance.
• Document experimental procedures, setup configurations, observations, and results in a clear and organized manner.
• Communicate experimental findings, technical issues, and recommendations to project teams and stakeholders.

Experiences/Education - Required

• MS or PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Optics, Photonics, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical field OR BS degree with 5+ years of relevant hands-on optics or laboratory experience may also be considered.
• Experience working in an experimental laboratory, research environment, metrology group, or product-development setting.
• Hands-on experience building, aligning, operating, and troubleshooting optical laboratory setups.
• Working knowledge of polarization optics, birefringence, retardation, and optical measurement principles.
• Familiarity with common optical components and instrumentation, such as lasers or light sources, detectors, cameras, polarizers, waveplates, lenses, microscopes, motion stages, and data-acquisition systems.
• Ability to follow experimental procedures, maintain detailed records, and generate high-quality, repeatable data.
• Experience analyzing and organizing experimental data using common technical software tools.
• Ability to identify practical problems in an experiment and take a structured approach to troubleshooting and resolution.
• Strong attention to detail, laboratory safety, and experimental rigor.
• Ability to communicate results effectively in written reports, presentations, and discussions with technical teams.

Experiences/Education - Desired

• Experience with glass metrology, chemically strengthened glass, ion exchange (IOX), or materials characterization.
• Experience measuring or evaluating stress-optic effects, residual stress, retardation, birefringence, or refractive-index variation in transparent materials.
• Familiarity with imaging systems, polarization imaging, optical microscopy, or automated measurement systems.
• Experience with laboratory automation, motion control, image analysis, or data-acquisition software.
• Experience supporting industrial R&D, process development, manufacturing technology, or product-development programs.
• Familiarity with basic optical modeling, ray tracing, or simulation tools is beneficial but not required.

• This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

• The range for this position is $91,394.00 - $125,667.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. 

A job that shapes a life.  

Corning offers you the total package.  

• Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

  • Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.
  • As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, we provide a 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
  • Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company-paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.  
  • Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions. 

• We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

• Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at accommodations@corning.com.