Snap Inc (https://www.snap.com/en-US/) is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. The Company’s three core products are Snapchat (https://www.snapchat.com/) , a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world; Lens Studio (https://ar.snap.com/lens-studio) , an augmented reality platform that powers AR across Snapchat and other services; and its AR glasses, Spectacles (https://www.spectacles.com/) .

　　Snap Lab is home to our hardware productswith a world-class research & development team. We are focused on pushing the boundaries of what a camera can be, specifically overlaying computing on the real world. Next Generation Spectacles are our first pair of glasses that bring augmented reality to life.

　　We're looking for a Lead Materials Scientist to join the Snap Lab team producing diffractive waveguides for Spectacles, our AR glasses!

　　You will be a part of the Nanophotonics Technology team, working on the designs, materials, processes, and techniques to advance the current state-of-the-art in the AR hardware domain. As the subject matter expert and the technical lead in the area, you will have the responsibility for the synthesis, analysis and interpretation of materials used in our processes, taking end-to-end ownership of materials related R&D projects spanning multiple teams. You will have the opportunity to develop innovative solutions from scratch and perform novel research in an autonomous manner.

　　The role is very hands-on, and will make use of a brand new clean room with an extensive range of wet-processing facilities and analytical instruments.

　　What you’ll do:

　　Establish methods to analyse the various polymer resin materials used in our products, including UV-curable materials and nanocomposites of dielectric particles in an organic matrix.

　　Investigate novel materials and processes for nanoimprint lithography for applications in optics and photonics .

　　Collaborate with internal and external teams to root cause issues and identify solutions.

　　Identify opportunities to optimise or even develop materials, formulations, and processes for scaling towards mass manufacturing.

　　Develop new metrology and characterisation approaches.

　　Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

　　Strong understanding of UV and thermal curing polymers including optical coatings, adhesives, and light-absorbing materials/inks.

　　Experience of polymer coating methods, especially thin films for nanofabrication processing.

　　Experience with mechanical characterisation of polymers and polymer interfaces such as adhesion strength and shrinkage.

　　Experience with developing polymer formulations and analysing third party materials of unknown composition.

　　Excellent verbal and written communication, and reasoning skills.

　　Ability to prioritise duties, work autonomously, and feed into a larger roadmap.

　　Basic understanding of the fundamentals of optics and photonics.

　　Minimum Qualifications:

　　PhD in chemistry, polymer science, material science or a similar discipline.

　　Postdoc or relevant industry experience.

　　Experience with projects involving polymer resins.

　　Experience with a range of material characterisation tools and techniques such as FTIR, TGA, GC/MS, EDX, XRD, rheometry, ellipsometry, nanoindentation & nanoscratch etc.

　　Strong background in data analysis and visualisation (Matlab, JMP, etc.).

　　Preferred Qualifications:

　　Knowledge of nanofabrication techniques such as E-beam lithography, optical lithography, nanoimprint lithography, deposition processes etc.

　　Experience with metrology techniques such as AFM, SEM, profilometry, etc.

　　Compensation:

　　Our compensation philosophy is designed to attract and retain top talent in the industry. We offer a competitive salary range £116k - £126k commensurate with your qualifications and experience and the level of this role. This position is eligible for equity in the form of RSUs.

　　"Default Together" Policy at Snap:

　　At Snap Inc. we believe that being together in person helps us build our culture faster, reinforce our values, and serve our community, customers and partners better through dynamic collaboration. To reflect this, we practice a “default together” approach and expect our team members to work in an office at least 4+ days per week.

　　If you are not based in the same location(s) listed for this role and are open to relocation, we encourage you to apply to take advantage of our generous relocation policy.

　　At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, colour, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. EOE, including disability/vets. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please don’t be shy and contact us at [email protected].

　　Our Benefits: Snap Inc. is its own community, so we’ve got your back! We do our best to make sure you and your loved ones have everything you need to be happy and healthy, on your own terms. Our benefits are built around your needs and include paid parental leave, comprehensive medical coverage, emotional and mental health support programs, and compensation packages that let you share in Snap’s long-term success!

　　A Decade of Snap (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdfCGl7CQeT_N_Gmli1oV1X6c9Ubzoozp) : Learn about our origin story, values, mission, culture of innovation, and more.

　　CitizenSnap (https://citizen.snap.com/) : In our third annual CitizenSnap Report, we demonstrate progress towards our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, and we lay out our plans looking forward.

　　The DEI Innovation Summit (https://actreport.com/dei-innovation-summit-2022/) : Watch highlights from the 2nd annual DEI Innovation Summit, which brings together thought leaders and DEI experts for a day of courageous conversations to enable bold action.

　　Snap News (https://newsroom.snap.com/) : Stay up to date on the latest and greatest product and innovation news at Snap

　　Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy (https://storage.googleapis.com/hris-assets/Applicant_and_Candidate_Privacy_Policy.pdf)