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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$135K - $182K *

Lead the charge in enhancing supplier performance and quality for electronic components. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement initiatives and ensure compliance with...

Washington, DCRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $200K *

Join a team that's redefining supply chain architecture as a strategic thought partner. Provide enterprise-wide insights into systems, risk, governance, and analytics, ensuring alignment and scalabili...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a dynamic team to tackle end-to-end computer vision challenges, ensuring reliable performance in real-world conditions. You'll optimize models and systems for vehicle detection, tracking, and ana...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$110K - $165K *

Shape your career by leading the onboarding and management of engineering tools, ensuring effective integration and sustainability across teams in a dynamic startup environment, fostering innovation a...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$124K - $170K *

Lead the charge in innovative software solutions for healthcare, collaborating with diverse teams to enhance patient care and meet customer needs through cutting-edge technology and creative problem-s...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$144K - $276K *

Accelerate progress at the intersection of documentation and AI by building systems that enhance knowledge sharing and streamline content workflows for developers and partners, ensuring high-quality...

RemoteRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of high-speed analog design by leading layout development for complex analog and mixed-signal IP blocks. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass silicon success w...

San Jose, CARemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in high-speed analog layout design for cutting-edge optical communication systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass silicon success while mentoring junior e...

Irvine, CARemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Unlock potential by leading a high-impact engineering team focused on observability. Drive technical roadmaps, enhance platform reliability, and ensure operational excellence while collaborating with...

Seattle, WARemote

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$126K - $140K *

Shape the future of customer success by owning technical onboarding, guiding clients through implementation, optimizing deployments, and ensuring adherence to best practices for optimal use of the pla...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Advance enterprise threat detection capabilities by developing high-fidelity detections across security platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance defensive posture and mentor junio...

Tennessee, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Transform validation processes by ensuring compliance and data integrity for computerized systems in a regulated environment. Collaborate with teams to develop strategies and mentor junior members whi...

Wellesley, MARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$117K - $235K *

Innovate in remote sensing research by leading complex projects, implementing cutting-edge solutions, and driving technical excellence in space-based applications. Collaborate with multidisciplinary t...

Albuquerque, NMRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$242K - $275K *

Lead the charge in developing and deploying robust containerized software, manage CI/CD workflows, and grow a cohesive engineering team to enhance customer security operations and software delivery ac...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$163K - $255K *

Champion the evolution of autonomous laboratories by leading product strategy, engaging with customers, and translating their needs into innovative solutions that integrate technology, workflows, and...

Illinois, USRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Transform your career by driving market development in quantum technology. Engage with strategic accounts and forge strong relationships while identifying new business opportunities and expanding exis...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$110K - $120K *

Lead the charge in quality engineering for critical assessment platforms, driving testing excellence and automation maturity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability and scalabil...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$94K - $151K *

Join a dynamic team as a Senior Analyst, supporting MedTech Quality initiatives through project management, financial oversight, and strategic reporting. Drive transformation efforts and enhance gover...

Raritan, NJRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$184K - $356K *

Unlock your potential by developing cutting-edge pipelines for multi-modal content retrieval. Collaborate with experts in Generative AI and enhance user experiences through innovative software solutio...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Innovate in mission planning by developing autonomous operations for satellite constellations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, prototype code, and optimize algorithms...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Accelerate your career by shaping innovative workflows and AI-driven experiences. Join a dynamic team where ownership, speed, and user-focused product development are paramount. Contribute across the...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$128K - $188K *

Drive your career with impactful technical sales in the medical device sector. Lead customer engagements, identify new business opportunities, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance pr...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$124K - $155K *

Contribute to our customer marketing strategy by developing programs that enhance engagement, retention, and advocacy. Collaborate cross-functionally to create compelling customer stories and scalable...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $150K *

Develop and expand advanced orbit design processes for satellite constellations, applying expertise in orbital mechanics. Collaborate with teams to enhance modeling tools and support mission planning...

Seattle, WARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$125K - $160K *

Elevate your career by owning electrical application engineering for prefabricated platforms. Collaborate across disciplines to deliver scalable solutions, ensuring design integrity and execution read...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

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.