[15] In 1966, Waters returned to Hughes as the manager of its solid state research center in 1966,[7][15][16] working on microwave devices and designing integrated circuits using gold and silicon Schottky diodes.

[18] In his obituary, the Los Angeles Times reported that Waters' integrated circuit designs were used in NASA's Surveyor program, which landed some of the first unmanned spacecraft on the Moon.

[19] The Atomic Heritage Foundation credits him with developing the components used in the landing mechanisms; later Waters helped invent the silicon wafer used in the electronics for telecommunication satellites.

[1][17] Waters married Lois Lockwood in 1951[21] in what the Covina Argus-Citizen called "an impressive ceremony";[2] the wedding was reported in several local newspapers.

[19] Waters died on 17 July 2000 and is buried at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California.