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.
Sales Engineer - Scientific Instrumentation & Remote Sensing
$90K - $110K *
Advance sales growth by leveraging technical expertise in remote sensing and scientific instrumentation. Engage with customers to create tailored solutions, drive revenue, and foster relationships acr...
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Senior Engineering Manager, Clinical
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Transform the engineering landscape by leading dual teams in the Clinical Division, driving technical excellence and career growth, while effectively managing product delivery and leveraging AI capabi...
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Principal Technical Program Manager - Computer Vision
$180K - $220K *
Drive the strategy and roadmap for enterprise-scale Computer Vision solutions, collaborating with internal teams to define requirements and ensure successful adoption of AI models across product portf...
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Senior Engineering Manager, Member Experience
$202K - $253K *
Elevate your leadership as you drive engineering excellence, overseeing multiple squads from prototype to production. Shape the roadmap, empower teams, and ensure quality delivery while staying techni...
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$151K - $176K *
Lead the charge in ensuring compliance and optimization for next-gen satellite communications by translating complex regulations and providing technical guidance across multidisciplinary teams, drivin...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Instructional Designer, Global Operations
$124K - $232K *
Empower your career with a pivotal role in developing innovative learning solutions for Global Operations, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and collaboration to enhance training effectiveness and...
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Senior Director, Engineering, Precision Defense
$270K - $365K *
Lead a dynamic engineering organization to transform offensive capabilities into proactive defense. Shape strategy, scale teams, and deliver innovative solutions across multiple pillars, ensuring robu...
Today
$137K - $231K *
Empower your career by shaping design systems that enhance user experience. Collaborate with teams to build high-quality, interactive UI across platforms, ensuring accessibility and performance while...
1 week ago
$151K - $195K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of design engineering by developing innovative systems that enhance user experience across web and mobile platforms. Your expertise will drive quality and perform...
1 week ago
$160K - $200K *
Unlock potential by leading technical direction in autonomy systems. Drive ownership of advanced perception, prediction, and planning components with cross-stack influence, facilitating innovation and...
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Senior Engineering Manager, Grafana Frontend | USA | Remote
$208K - $250K *
Shape the future of Grafana by leading frontend development squads, fostering collaboration and innovation to enhance user experiences. Drive AI integration and team growth while managing strategic pr...
Reposted 1 week ago
$107K - $204K *
Join our team to lead the development and modernization of a critical software platform, driving architectural updates and AI integration while mentoring junior developers and ensuring compliance with...
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$162K - $290K *
Drive the development of cutting-edge AI-driven safety solutions, leading firmware and full-stack initiatives. Collaborate across teams to shape technology strategy and deliver impactful products that...
2 weeks ago
Technical Product Manager - Vision Plan
$102K - $175K *
Lead the charge in shaping innovative planning solutions as a Technical Product Manager. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product strategy, enhance operational stability, and deliver i...
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Principal AI Solutions Engineer
$132K - $173K *
Architect AI-driven solutions that enhance business processes and decision-making. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deploy scalable applications, ensuring compliance wit...
2 weeks ago
Senior People Business Partner, Engineering
$115K - $194K *
Unlock your potential as a strategic partner to senior Engineering leaders, driving organizational change and fostering a high-performance culture across global teams in a fast-paced tech environment...
6 days ago
Principal Physical Verification Engineer
$150K - $180K *
Champion full-chip physical verification efforts, driving quality and accountability while collaborating cross-functionally to ensure successful tapeout readiness and clean IP delivery...
Today
Principal Physical Verification Engineer
$150K - $180K *
Drive full-chip physical verification efforts, ensuring quality and readiness for tapeout. Collaborate cross-functionally to influence design strategies and deliver clean IP, while leading execution p...
Today
Senior Forward Deployed Engineer
$120K - $145K *
Empower innovation by leading the development of production Generative AI solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, build, and optimize workflows, ensuring operational excellence a...
Reposted today
Lead Software Test Development Engineer
$100K - $180K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of server hardware validation. As a Lead Software Test Development Engineer, you'll design and develop test systems, ensuring quality and reliability in large-sca...
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$190K - $200K *
Lead the charge in electrical engineering excellence across multiple campuses, ensuring robust design, validation, and energization of critical infrastructure while integrating onsite generation solut...
1 week ago
Principal Engineer, Transformation Engineering
$131K - $196K *
Unlock potential by developing AI-driven applications and data pipelines. Collaborate with teams to enhance operational efficiency through innovative technical solutions, ensuring quality and scalabil...
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$180K - $200K *
Elevate healthcare technology by owning mobile and web apps that enhance clinician workflows. Drive product direction, prioritize initiatives, and ensure patient safety while leveraging AI to improve...
Today
Principal Physical Design Engineer
$150K - $180K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of ASIC physical design, leading complex SoC implementations, optimizing performance, and ensuring design integrity through collaboration and innovative methodolog...
Yesterday
Sr Physical Design Engineer (GF 12LP) - 100% remote
$135K - $165K *
Unlock potential by leading RTL-to-GDSII implementation of high-performance SoCs. Drive advanced FinFET design challenges, optimize PPA, and ensure robust timing closure in a fully remote environment...
1 week ago
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.