Senior Optical Engineer Jobs

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.

What Senior Optical Engineers Do

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.

Common Skills and Qualifications

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.

Industries and Career Opportunities

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.

Find Senior Optical Engineer Jobs on Ladders

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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
More
1
caret down

$83K - $155K *

Explore a dynamic role combining application engineering with hands-on field support. Collaborate with customers and teams to troubleshoot and optimize solutions, ensuring successful installations and...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$125K - $150K *

Lead a dynamic team of Solutions Engineers driving technical success and customer engagement. Collaborate with sales and engineering, ensuring high performance and strategic impact throughout the cust...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $126K *

Lead and optimize subcontract management by negotiating agreements, ensuring compliance, and collaborating with stakeholders to drive successful federal contracting outcomes while mentoring junior sta...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$99K - $158K *

Join a team that's leading innovation in print and packaging processes. Drive complex projects, enhance workflows, and ensure top-tier color management across multiple business units while collaborati...

Chicago, ILRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$275K - $300K *

Transform customer experiences by leading the multi-location product initiative, driving strategy, and developing innovative solutions that scale across the platform for diverse users, empowering them...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$110K - $130K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of dental technology by leading software development for specialized machines, shaping the future of custom prosthetics manufacturing in a dynamic, high-growth env...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Join us to empower enterprise customers with innovative sourcing solutions, manage complex RFPs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive procurement success while leveraging cutting-edge...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$176K - $276K *

Empower your career with a Senior Program Manager role driving production excellence, ensuring material readiness, and leading cross-functional teams to enhance manufacturing processes in a fast-paced...

Texas, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $120K *

Grow expertise in advanced BAS applications while mentoring peers, troubleshooting complex systems, and supporting projects throughout their lifecycle to drive success and foster innovation in buildin...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$154K - $260K *

Join an innovative team to lead and evolve critical Core Infrastructure. Oversee infrastructure strategy, improve operational health, and drive automation to boost performance across a globally distri...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Transform the recruitment landscape by owning full-cycle hiring for GTM and R&D teams. Engage with stakeholders, shape strategies, and drive hiring velocity while ensuring a positive candidate experie...

CanadaRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$132K - $251K *

Deliver high-quality SAP ABAP solutions by developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting programs for aftermarket and depot operations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance system performa...

Arizona, USRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$285K *

Champion a hands-on team of engineers to deliver high-quality software solutions. Guide technical design, develop talent, and manage client relationships while ensuring effective engagement delivery a...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$135K - $160K *

Empower a talented engineering team to develop innovative airgap-native software solutions. Drive product success in National Defense by ensuring seamless integration with UDS, fostering collaboration...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$155K - $222K *

Unlock potential by architecting and scaling cloud video services, designing high-performance APIs, and ensuring system resilience through end-to-end ownership and strategic collaboration with cross-f...

San Francisco, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$170K - $220K *

Lead the strategy for manufacturing processes, ensuring seamless product transitions from design to production. Partner with cross-functional teams to optimize supplier capabilities while meeting cost...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$180K - $200K *

Champion the design and development of AI-driven security solutions, enhancing autonomous investigation capabilities while collaborating with cross-functional teams to address customer needs and impro...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$132K - $207K *

Analyze and enhance GPU product reliability and manufacturability by collaborating with cross-functional teams, driving corrective actions, and supporting high-volume production environments to ensure...

Tennessee, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$135K - $160K *

Drive your career with a Senior Site Reliability Engineer role focused on building secure AWS GovCloud foundations for FedRAMP High and IL5, ensuring compliance and operational excellence while mentor...

CanadaRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$192K - $266K *

Drive best-in-class travel support through strategic leadership and operational excellence. Oversee lodging, flights, and customer advocacy, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and exception...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Pioneer innovative solutions as a Senior Manager in Deployed Engineering, leading hands-on deployments and building a high-performing team. Collaborate closely with customers and internal teams to dri...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $180K *

Transform user experiences by developing innovative web applications with cutting-edge technologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create exceptional battery analytics software for leadin...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$84K - $90K *

Optimize product development by collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams to enhance embedded systems, design software components, and ensure robust operation while addressing technical challenges i...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$157K - $174K *

Elevate technical execution in GMP manufacturing by leading complex workstreams for comparability strategies, tech transfers, and process improvements. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensur...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$162K - $220K *

Drive innovation in electrical engineering for hyperscale data centers. Lead design activities, manage project teams, and ensure quality assurance while collaborating with stakeholders to deliver resi...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Senior Optical Engineer do?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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.