Senior Hardware Engineer- LCD Optical Architecture

The Role:

To achieve our vision of a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and 
Zero Congestion, GM Hardware platform is evolving to provide robust 
service to our customers. This position is part of the Display Design & Development team within the Compute & Connectivity Hardware organization.

We are seeking a high-performing LCD Optical Architecture Engineer to 
lead the specification, selection, and validation of optical film 
components used in LCD modules for our next-generation displays. You will play a key role in optimizing light management film stacks to achieve 
industry-leading performance in luminance, contrast ratio, and optical 
efficiency under diverse automotive operating conditions.

The LCD Optical Architecture Engineer will support the development and
production of display systems such as instrument clusters, center displays, and passenger infotainment screens. The engineer will be responsible for the architecture and performance optimization of light management films including DBEF (Dual Brightness Enhancement Film), BEF (Brightness Enhancement Film), diffuser films, prism films, polarizers, and compensation films. You will work closely with display panel suppliers, optical material suppliers, and internal cross-functional teams to ensure film stacks meet GM’s optical performance, and durability standards.
 

What You'll Do (Responsibilities):

• Design and optimize the optical film stack architecture for LCD modules used in automotive interior displays.
• Select appropriate brightness enhancement and optical compensation films (e.g., DBEF, BEF, diffuser, prism, etc.) based on application and system requirements.
• Conduct film stack simulations and ray tracing analysis to evaluate trade-offs in brightness, viewing angle, color shift, and efficiency.
• Collaborate with display panel suppliers to define and validate film stack structures under automotive conditions including temperature cycling, humidity, vibration, and sunlight exposure.
• Analyze optical measurement data (e.g., luminance, contrast ratio, haze, reflectance, viewing cone, color shift) and correlate with film stack properties.
• Investigate and resolve optical issues such as non-uniformity, Mura, and halo artifacts related to film stack interaction.
• Interface with materials suppliers to evaluate new film materials and lamination processes for enhanced durability and optical performance.
• Provide technical direction on film stack DFM and ensure robust performance across the display supply chain.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Display Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in optical film stack design, display optics, or light management systems.
• Deep understanding of LCD optical architecture, particularly brightness enhancement and polarization management films.
• Familiarity with film performance metrics such as halo, haze, birefringence, angular luminance, and reflectivity.
• Proficiency with optical simulation and analysis tools.
• Experience with optical characterization equipment (e.g., imaging colorimeters, spectroradiometers).
• Understanding of automotive optical performance requirements.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications):

• Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Display Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• Experience with Tier-2 display panel suppliers or film material supplier.
• Knowledge of Mini LED backlight and its interaction with film stacks.
• Familiarity with optical bonding and cover glass stack integration.
• Experience in qualifying new film materials for thermal, UV, and mechanical durability.

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