Explore Senior Optical Engineer opportunities with organizations developing advanced optical and photonic technologies. Ladders features vetted professional roles paying $100,000 or more, including positions focused on optical design, imaging systems, lasers, and precision instrumentation.
Senior Optical Engineers design, analyze, test, and refine optical systems and components. Their work may span lenses, cameras, sensors, lasers, fiber-optic systems, imaging instruments, and optoelectronic devices. They often use optical modeling and simulation tools, guide prototype development, interpret test results, and collaborate with electrical, mechanical, software, and manufacturing teams to bring products from concept to production.
Employers commonly seek a degree in optical engineering, physics, electrical engineering, or a related technical field, along with substantial experience developing optical systems. Relevant skills may include optical design and analysis, imaging and illumination, tolerance analysis, metrology, laboratory testing, laser safety, and familiarity with tools such as Zemax OpticStudio or CODE V. Senior roles may also call for technical leadership, clear communication, and experience mentoring engineers or coordinating cross-functional projects.
Senior Optical Engineers work across aerospace and defense, medical devices, semiconductors, telecommunications, consumer electronics, scientific instrumentation, and photonics. Depending on the employer, roles may emphasize research and development, product engineering, systems integration, manufacturing support, or technical program leadership. Browse opportunities to find positions aligned with your specialties, experience, and career goals.
Search vetted Senior Optical Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more on Ladders. Review role requirements, compare opportunities, and discover professional positions where your optical engineering expertise can make an impact.
$154K - $260K *
Transform edge AI solutions by leading a talented engineering team. Drive the strategy for embedded systems and machine learning, ensuring impactful deployment of intelligent safety features for real...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Systems Software Engineer, CUDA and AI HW Profiler
$152K - $287K *
Join a team that's developing cutting-edge GPU performance tools for AI and HPC. Your expertise will shape innovative profiling solutions, empowering CUDA engineers globally to maximize GPU capabiliti...
3 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Shape the future of passenger rail by leading mechanical systems integration and validation. Collaborate with suppliers and clients to ensure compliance and deliver manufacturable designs for refurbis...
2 weeks ago
Member of Technical Staff, Design Engineering
$110K - $130K *
Engage as a Design Engineer, bridging design and engineering to create user-centric interfaces. Architect smooth interactions within our platform while implementing a robust design system that enhance...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Mechanical Engineer, Operations Engineering
$110K - $130K *
Lead the design and optimization of mechanical systems for data centers, ensuring reliability, energy efficiency, and compliance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance operational perform...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineer, Math Libraries - Consumer and Embedded Platforms
$152K - $287K *
Empower cutting-edge AI applications by enabling CUDA Math Libraries on diverse platforms. Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure high-quality performance and compliance, driving innovation in s...
2 weeks ago
Senior Circuit Timing Engineer
$168K - $310K *
Contribute to cutting-edge processor design in deep submicron tech. Collaborate globally to innovate circuits for security and power management. Drive timing analysis and signoff, enhancing performanc...
1 week ago
$100K - $120K *
Join a team that's driving software quality through innovative automation frameworks. As a key player, you'll lead QA efforts, mentor engineers, and ensure high-quality, reliable software in an Agile...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Transform airport advertising environments by conducting site visits, developing signage concepts, and collaborating with design teams. This role combines hands-on fieldwork with creative design to en...
Today
$100K - $120K *
Transform the future of automation by leading innovative robotic solutions. Drive design, compliance, and manufacturing processes while mentoring a high-performing team in a dynamic, growth-stage envi...
2 days ago
Senior Substation Physical Engineer - REMOTE WORK
$97K - $192K *
Lead innovative substation engineering projects, providing technical direction and mentorship to teams while ensuring high-quality deliverables for clients across the U.S. Collaborate on complex desig...
3 days ago
Senior Staff Forward Deployed Engineer
$152K - $205K *
Lead the charge in architecting AI-driven solutions for enterprise clients, transforming complex data governance challenges into actionable insights. Collaborate with stakeholders to shape product evo...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineering Manager, Agent Platform & Growth
$150K - $180K *
Join a team that's redefining the onboarding experience for human and AI agents by leading innovative UX and engineering teams. Drive growth through strategic roadmap ownership, hands-on leadership, a...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Program Chief Engineer, Cyclops (Remote considered)
$190K - $275K *
Elevate technical excellence as the Chief Engineer, guiding multidisciplinary teams to ensure mission success through robust architecture, requirements management, and strategic decision-making in com...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by owning the end-to-end product surface, driving discovery, design, and migration while collaborating closely with users to solve real market problems in a dynamic healthcare environ...
2 weeks ago
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
$90K - $110K *
Lead the charge in ensuring the quality and reliability of our SaaS cardiac device management platform. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute comprehensive testing and advocate for seamle...
6 days ago
Senior Process Technician, Packaging
$79K - $120K *
Join a dedicated team to execute precision packaging processes for cutting-edge quantum hardware. You'll handle delicate components, operate complex equipment, and ensure quality through meticulous in...
3 weeks ago
Engineering Manager, Provider Ecosystem
$150K - $180K *
Grow a dynamic team driving OpenRouter’s provider ecosystem, managing innovations across diverse models and endpoints, ensuring quality and efficiency in inference services for millions of requests da...
3 weeks ago
Senior Technical Sales Engineer - eBOS
$155K - $165K *
Shape the future of solar energy by leading the technical strategy and customer engagement for eBOS solutions, ensuring successful deployments and optimization across all project phases. Collaborate c...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Lead Program Systems Engineer, Cyclops (remote considered)
$150K - $230K *
Architect system-level requirements and verification plans for a complex aerospace program. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure coherent design and integration across multiple engineerin...
2 weeks ago
Lead Metallic Materials Application Engineer
$112K - $149K *
Join a team that's dedicated to advancing aerospace materials technology. In this role, you'll lead the definition and qualification of materials for engine hardware, collaborating with cross-function...
Yesterday
$160K - $200K *
Join a team that's redefining cloud infrastructure by providing cross-departmental technical leadership, driving innovative architectural solutions, and mentoring top engineers to create unified, scal...
4 weeks ago
$130K - $160K *
Join a team that's driving innovative launch campaigns, managing complex schedules, and enhancing internal processes. This role requires a proactive leader to oversee launch operations and foster rela...
2 weeks ago
Senior Technical Product Manager
$153K - $213K *
Champion the development of a key platform, driving strategy, success metrics, and technical depth while collaborating across teams to deliver impactful solutions that meet customer needs and enhance...
2 weeks ago
$160K - $230K *
Transform mission-critical applications by collaborating with AI engineers to enhance performance, scalability, and security. Drive technical excellence and mentor peers while navigating dynamic feder...
Yesterday
What does a Senior Optical Engineer do?
A Senior Optical Engineer designs, models, tests, and improves optical systems and components, such as lenses, imaging devices, lasers, sensors, and photonic systems. The role may also involve technical leadership and collaboration across engineering and product teams.
What qualifications are commonly required for Senior Optical Engineer jobs?
Requirements vary by employer, but many positions seek a degree in optical engineering, physics, electrical engineering, or a related discipline, plus significant experience with optical design, analysis, testing, and measurement.
Which industries hire Senior Optical Engineers?
Common employers are found in aerospace and defense, medical technology, semiconductors, telecommunications, consumer electronics, photonics, and scientific instrumentation.
What skills are useful for Senior Optical Engineers?
Useful skills include optical modeling, lens and imaging design, tolerance analysis, metrology, laboratory testing, laser safety, and experience with optical design software. Senior positions may also require project leadership and cross-functional communication.
What salary range can I expect for a Senior Optical Engineer job on Ladders?
Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more. Actual compensation depends on factors such as location, experience, industry, and role responsibilities; review individual listings for details.