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.
$126K - $188K *
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$90K - $110K *
Optimize analytics workflows in Clinical Operations to enhance productivity and performance insights. Collaborate on data integration, reporting, and automation, ensuring actionable insights drive str...
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$137K - $160K *
Engineer secure and resilient multi-cloud environments while collaborating with product teams. Adapt designs to support rapid change in a late-stage startup, ensuring safety and performance in AI-driv...
4 weeks ago
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$182K - $251K *
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Software Engineer 4 - AI Native
$88K - $180K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI-native software development. Drive engineering excellence by orchestrating autonomous agents and maintaining high-quality standards in a FedRAMP-authorized e...
3 weeks ago
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$135K - $160K *
Shape the future of autonomous driving by leading trajectory generation and controls. Collaborate across teams to deliver safe, optimized solutions while enhancing vehicle performance through innovati...
2 days ago
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$178K - $200K *
Join us to shape the future of observability in infrastructure. Lead technical direction, mentor engineers, and enhance our metrics and logging platforms while driving automation and AI integration ac...
1 week ago
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$79K - $109K *
Unlock your potential by providing technical support and guidance for products aimed at combating online child exploitation. Collaborate across teams to enhance workflows and tooling, leveraging emerg...
3 weeks ago
FSP-Senior Bioanalytical Study Manager
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by leading a diverse portfolio of projects, ensuring client satisfaction and operational excellence. Drive efficiency, manage resources, and serve as the primary liaison between clien...
1 week ago
Group Manager, Brand Advertising
$125K - $150K *
Drive your career with a leadership role overseeing brand advertising strategy, budget, and execution across multiple channels. Lead a team and collaborate with agencies to enhance brand visibility an...
2 weeks ago
Sr. Principal Software and AI Engineer
$137K - $182K *
Architect and drive AI-powered applications for drug development, focusing on protocol generation and clinical trials. Lead technical direction, mentor engineers, and ensure compliance while fostering...
1 week ago
Senior Technical Program Manager
$200K - $220K *
Empower the future of financial operations by mastering money movement, ensuring seamless transactions and transparency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product success and enhance cl...
1 week ago
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$150K - $180K *
Drive success by leading a technical sales engineering team to enhance client partnerships, develop solutions, and deliver tailored strategies in the evolving media and technology landscape. Collabora...
3 weeks ago
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$92K - $148K *
Unlock potential by leading clinical trials in oncology, ensuring compliance and quality data management. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success from start-up to closeout, wh...
3 days ago
Director, SLED Solutions Engineering
$196K - $245K *
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$185K - $225K *
Launch innovative full-stack solutions, owning features from backend to UI. Collaborate with a remote team to enhance agent workflows and ensure secure, reliable experiences in a regulated financial e...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer, Adaptive
$120K - $145K *
Unlock potential by taking ownership of complex software challenges. Drive real-time traffic optimization through innovative AI solutions, collaborating across teams to deliver scalable and reliable s...
3 weeks ago
Senior Designer, Brand Marketing
$110K - $130K *
Join us to elevate brand experiences through innovative design. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, drive projects from concept to delivery, and leverage AI tools to enhance creativity in a dynam...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Unlock the potential of AI-driven systems by designing, orchestrating, and deploying innovative workflows across diverse business operations. Collaborate with teams to automate and enhance processes...
Reposted yesterday
Staff Software Engineer in Test, Compiler & Systems Validation
$135K - $160K *
Oversee quality engineering initiatives by enhancing validation practices, establishing scalable strategies, and improving release evidence in collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure robus...
2 weeks 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.