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.
Senior Outbound Product Manager
$165K - $215K *
Shape the future of developer portals by driving product-led growth and transformation. Own the Internal Developer Portal's success with innovative marketing and sales strategies, while establishing t...
3 weeks ago
Senior Outbound Product Manager
$185K - $235K *
Reimagine the Internal Developer Portal's growth, driving transformation towards product-led strategies. Shape market perceptions around developer experience and deliver insightful, technical presenta...
3 weeks ago
$125K - $150K *
Lead the charge in managing and optimizing cloud infrastructure across multiple platforms. Collaborate with teams to enhance product reliability and streamline operations while ensuring security and c...
2 weeks ago
Senior Technical Recruiter, Engineering Leadership
$150K - $180K *
Champion the search for engineering leaders by guiding full-cycle recruitment, defining role expectations, engaging passive candidates, and advising stakeholders to make strategic hiring decisions in...
4 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer - Agent Team
$140K - $190K *
Empower your career by developing innovative solutions for a cloud-native platform, enhancing endpoint management for global clients. Collaborate with a dynamic team to drive impactful features and en...
Yesterday
Senior Product Marketing Manager- Inference
$130K - $160K *
Unlock potential by driving our AI inference strategy, defining market propositions, and shaping go-to-market motions. Join a dynamic team focused on innovative solutions and customer engagement to es...
3 weeks ago
Associate Sales Engineer, SE Desk - TOLA
$69K - $93K *
Champion customer engagement by leveraging technical expertise to identify and implement innovative IoT solutions, enhancing operational efficiency across various industries. Collaborate with sales te...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Director of Commercial Excellence
$192K - $256K *
Oversee high-impact initiatives driving productivity gains in Sales and CS. Blend strategic thinking with hands-on leadership to ensure effective execution of cross-functional programs aligned with AG...
Today
Principal, R&D Learning Products & Enablement
$122K - $218K *
Transform R&D Enablement by defining strategies and creating scalable learning products that enhance team capabilities, drive performance, and leverage emerging technologies to support technical teams...
2 days ago
$100K - $120K *
Drive quality assurance excellence across cloud, IoT, and firmware systems by designing and executing innovative test strategies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability and perf...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Senior Technical Product Marketing Manager, Edge (SMM193)
$125K - $150K *
Join a team that's redefining product marketing strategies for cutting-edge defense solutions. Lead the charge in driving growth and adoption of innovative technologies while collaborating with cross...
1 week ago
Principal Mechanical Engineer (Starship)
$130K - $155K *
Engineer cutting-edge mechanical systems for revolutionary aerospace projects. Collaborate across disciplines to design, test, and iterate on flight hardware while empowering hands-on engagement with...
4 weeks ago
Senior Digital Program Manager
$92K - $136K *
Help us drive customer success by owning and optimizing digital engagement programs. You'll lead strategy, build automated journeys, and analyze performance to enhance customer experiences and ensure...
1 week ago
Technical Program Manager, Research
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in defining and executing critical technical programs, enhancing research infrastructure while ensuring impactful collaboration across teams. Empower researchers to translate their wor...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Software Engineer II, Core Edge Processing
$92K - $116K *
Empower progress at the core of payment processing by developing and deploying production code. Collaborate with senior engineers to enhance transaction routing systems and gain hands-on experience in...
2 weeks ago
$144K - $200K *
Lead a national team of Key Account Leaders to drive sales in campus public safety, focusing on recruitment, coaching, and team performance. Shape strategies to enhance sales effectiveness and adapt t...
Yesterday
$135K - $160K *
Lead the charge in developing end-to-end AI workflows, integrating LLM systems, and enhancing production reliability. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to innovate and elevate AI engineering pra...
1 week ago
$135K - $251K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of software development by enhancing DevSecOps capabilities. Collaborate with customers to automate processes and deliver innovative solutions in a dynamic enviro...
1 week ago
Director, Process Optimization Lead
$171K - $231K *
Champion operational excellence and innovation within the P&SM function, driving strategic planning, resource management, and cross-functional collaboration to enhance efficiency in clinical study exe...
Reposted 1 week ago
Director, Engineering, Platform/Services
$216K - $318K *
Drive innovation as you lead engineering teams to build and scale Life360's critical platforms. Ensure reliability and security while fostering a culture of accountability and technical excellence for...
6 days ago
Senior Product Designer, AI Builders
$150K - $205K *
Shape the future of AI by designing intuitive tools that empower users to create and manage automated workflows, bridging the gap between technology and user experience in contact centers...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer Microsoft Development Platform (DoD Programs)
$120K - $145K *
Pioneer innovative software solutions for defense programs by leveraging your expertise in C#, .NET, and SQL Server. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure secure, compliant, and high-quali...
Today
Senior Demand Generation Manager, Network Observability
$110K - $130K *
Grow revenue by strategizing, executing, and optimizing data-driven demand generation campaigns. Collaborate across teams to enhance multi-channel marketing strategy driving sales for global Network O...
1 month ago
Staff Software Engineer, ML Training Infrastructure
$150K - $180K *
Innovate a high-performance AI training platform, enhancing ML workflows for autonomous vehicles. Collaborate across teams to optimize model development, ensuring reliability and scalability while pro...
3 weeks ago
Sr. Process Engineer, Commercialization & Scale-Up
$95K - $115K *
Transform the manufacturing landscape by engineering robust, scalable processes that translate formula standards into production realities, ensuring seamless handoffs and collaboration with co-manufac...
3 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.