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.
$127K - $171K *
Champion high-impact deployments by leveraging data intelligence and AI to drive governance solutions in regulated industries, serving as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and delivering measurable va...
Reposted 1 week ago
$192K - $251K *
Champion innovative design solutions as a Lead Product Designer, driving strategic initiatives and enhancing user experiences for Jira. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape the future of w...
3 weeks ago
Systems Engineer - Research Infrastructure & Lab Platforms - Government Customer
$120K - $140K *
Unlock potential by architecting and enhancing next-gen research platforms, driving automation and reliability to provide researchers with cutting-edge tools. Collaborate in a dynamic environment brid...
Reposted 4 days ago
Senior Solutions Architect, Enterprise AI Factories
$152K - $287K *
Shape advanced enterprise solutions by connecting customer workloads to NVIDIA's technology stack. Serve as a trusted advisor, driving technical engagements and enabling successful adoption of NVIDIA...
Reposted 3 days ago
Senior Software Engineer, Containers
$157K - $184K *
Engineer and elevate our core product by developing innovative features, tools, and infrastructure while collaborating closely with a dedicated team to maintain high-quality standards and drive techni...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Fullstack Software Engineer
$120K - $145K *
Innovate cloud-based software solutions for the energy sector, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance power systems engineering processes. Leverage cutting-edge technologies to drive pro...
3 days ago
Data & Artificial Intelligence Research Engineer, L4
$182K - $210K *
Transform the future of materials science by developing cutting-edge machine learning models. Collaborate across teams to enhance AI capabilities, improve interpretability, and drive innovation in mat...
3 weeks ago
Hardware Production Program Manager
$110K - $120K *
Manage the end-to-end production planning and lifecycle of advanced aerial sensors and drone payloads, ensuring seamless execution from design to deployment while driving cross-team collaboration and...
1 week ago
Senior Cost Manager: Pre-Con (Data Centers)
$108K - $145K *
Shape the future of project management as a Senior Cost Manager, driving cost efficiency and strategic decision-making. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance client value and foster strong relatio...
1 week ago
$120K - $145K *
Engage partners by driving technical enablement and solution design. Collaborate across teams to empower resellers and integrators, ensuring successful adoption and growth of innovative solutions thro...
2 weeks ago
Senior Mobile Engineer, BLE & Device Connectivity (iOS/Android)
$150K - $190K *
Transform mobile connectivity by developing native iOS and Android BLE SDKs, ensuring reliable data capture for EEG headbands and wearables. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user exp...
1 week ago
$150K - $280K *
Drive system architecture definition and refine requirements in a collaborative, agile environment. Engage with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with customer needs and technical solutions...
Yesterday
$80K - $95K *
Pioneer innovative design solutions by creating self-service templates that empower teams to produce on-brand marketing materials efficiently across multiple channels and locations, ensuring brand int...
4 days ago
Senior Autonomy Technical Project Manager
$150K - $180K *
Accelerate your career by managing innovative projects in autonomous driving. Lead multidisciplinary teams, mitigate risks, and drive solutions through data analysis and effective communication in a d...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior AI Applied Value Architect
$179K - $204K *
Transform customer operations by leading AI-driven business initiatives, ensuring strategic deployment of the Celonis Platform. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance value realization and drive imp...
Yesterday
Associate Director, Quality (Clinical)
$175K - $210K *
Drive quality excellence in clinical programs by overseeing compliance, risk management, and vendor oversight. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure adherence to GCP regulations and lead inspection...
2 weeks ago
$60K - $120K *
Engage in the dynamic creator economy as a Senior Talent Manager. Drive talent representation, negotiate impactful brand partnerships, and lead the evolution of creator management while fostering a cu...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Senior Product Manager (Modeling & Simulation)
$125K - $150K *
Lead product strategy and execution for a suite of wargaming tools, collaborating with users and engineers to transform complex technical capabilities into impactful solutions in high-stakes environme...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by leading product vision and strategy, driving customer insights to align with business goals. Collaborate across teams to deliver innovative solutions, ensuring impactful outcomes f...
3 weeks ago
$56K - $114K *
Drive the development and support of applications and systems, ensuring quality and performance through coding, testing, and troubleshooting. Collaborate with teams to enhance software solutions and m...
2 weeks ago
$125K - $150K *
Innovate AI-driven systems that enhance clinical and operational workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline processes, elevate care delivery, and build scalable infrastructure in...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $170K *
Shape the future of enterprise infrastructure by leading design, implementation, and optimization of systems. Drive automation, enhance security, and mentor junior staff while collaborating on strateg...
Yesterday
$90K - $110K *
Optimize real-time automation solutions across manufacturing and enterprise levels. Collaborate with engineering teams to design, implement, and enhance systems using diverse programming and design to...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Transform your career by engineering innovative automation solutions across industries. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance operational efficiency and drive real-time information systems from t...
1 week ago
$92K - $110K *
Elevate your career by engineering real-time automation solutions across industries. Collaborate with a dynamic team to design, implement, and optimize systems that enhance operational efficiency and...
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.