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.

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$157K - $238K *

Join a dynamic team to leverage AI in enhancing application security. You'll assess vulnerabilities, implement fixes, and shape AI security strategies, driving innovation in a fast-paced environment w...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Transform the geocoding platform by enhancing data quality and search systems. Leverage ML and LLMs to optimize query understanding and automate data pipelines, impacting over 1 billion API calls dail...

New York, NYRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$130K - $155K *

Lead the development of innovative Generative AI solutions, overseeing end-to-end processes from design to deployment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance enterprise systems and ensure...

Florida, USRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$155K - $185K *

Join a growing aerospace organization to design and develop backend software for remote sensing systems, influencing the entire operational structure through autonomous project ownership and collabora...

Arlington, VARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$151K - $251K *

Drive the planning and execution of Flight Software development programs, ensuring seamless coordination between engineering and program management for timely delivery of spacecraft software systems...

Palo Alto, CARemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $250K *

Develop cutting-edge ML workflows and infrastructure, influence company direction, and tackle complex engineering challenges in a fast-paced environment, boosting productivity and innovation across te...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$104K - $145K *

Lead the charge in developing a robust quality control program, managing a team to enhance operational processes, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance across lending operations while leveraging autom...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$130K - $160K *

Shape the future of home design by leading technical architecture and delivery for a groundbreaking 3D application, collaborating closely with product teams to transform ideas into seamless experience...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$160K - $180K *

Optimize system performance as a Senior Performance Engineer, focusing on latency and resource management. Collaborate with robotics teams to enhance high-throughput execution reliability and efficien...

Ann Arbor, MIRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$172K - $215K *

Join a team that's transforming public safety through innovative drone solutions. Lead complex deployments, drive technical wins, and shape the future of sUAS operations while mentoring a talented eng...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$80K - $95K *

Transform customer satisfaction by leading quality analysis and improvement projects. Collaborate with diverse teams across multiple sites to ensure product excellence and responsiveness to client nee...

Memphis, TNRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$170K - $190K *

Join a team that's transforming EEG analysis through innovative web applications that enhance data analytics, clinical studies, and patient diagnostics, improving lives through technology-driven insig...

Boston, MARemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$103K - $160K *

Drive product development by leading a senior engineering pod to deliver high-quality software for city permitting and community operations, leveraging AI tools and coding agents to enhance efficiency...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$115K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to design rugged hardware for advanced robotics, collaborating with engineers to create production-ready CAD models and optimize mechanical packaging for high-density systems in ch...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$114K - $168K *

Engage with customers by providing technical support and training for Frontline software products, while managing implementation projects. Collaborate across teams to enhance product features and ensu...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$125K - $200K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing user engagement through innovative front-end solutions. You'll leverage modern web technologies to build secure, high-performance financial applications that...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$152K - $283K *

Lead the development of high-quality, compliant data engineering practices that enhance enterprise data governance and accelerate data-driven decision-making for improved patient outcomes across the o...

East Hanover, NJRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Architect solutions to enhance DevOps teams' security by managing pre-sales technical support, conducting product demos, and serving as a subject matter expert in CI/CD integrations and workflows. Eng...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's innovating robust applications by leveraging your expertise in React and Python/Django. You'll drive technical initiatives, enhance user experiences, and lead high-impact projects t...

New York, NYRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Champion the development of innovative observability solutions, leveraging your expertise in Go and network protocols to enhance network automation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of electrical safety and engineering by leading global programs, ensuring compliance, and driving continuous improvement across multiple sites while mentoring teams and enhancing oper...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$236K - $300K *

Unlock potential by leading the evolution of our design system, transforming it into a dynamic foundation for AI-powered workflows. Collaborate across design and engineering to create seamless, high-q...

San Francisco, CARemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$175K - $210K *

Join a team that's innovating the future of energy by integrating large-load facilities into the electric grid, solving complex challenges, and ensuring reliable power supply for high-performance comp...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of field engineering by leading technical support, training, and quality assurance efforts. Drive continuous improvement while ensuring top-tier service and communication with clients...

RemoteRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$81K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team dedicated to providing exceptional support for high-resolution mass spectrometry instruments. Leverage your technical expertise to install, troubleshoot, and maintain equipment whi...

California, USRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

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.