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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$108K - $123K *

Unlock innovative solutions as you design and implement precision structures for advanced optical instruments, leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-performance subsystems for space and grou...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$90K - $110K *

Take ownership of the design and optimization of TFT pixel architectures for next-gen holographic displays, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to solve complex engineering challenges and enhan...

Edmonton, ABIn-Person

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$95K - $115K *

Engage with us to develop and scale manufacturing processes for precision opto-mechanical spacecraft assemblies, bridging design and production to enhance hardware integration and manufacturability in...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$170K - $247K *

Lead the future of semiconductor technology by managing MOCVD reactor hardware and epitaxy equipment. Drive performance, maintenance, and team development to ensure optimal production of GaN-based las...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Lead the mechanical design and development of innovative optical test equipment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure product performance and manufacturability, driving projects from conc...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$100K - $130K *

Lead the charge in optimizing our AWS-based infrastructure, enhancing CI/CD pipelines, and automating workflows. Collaborate with developers and SRE teams to ensure high availability and performance o...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of advanced laser technology by defining control architectures and driving robust solutions. Lead the design and optimization of laser control systems, ensuring performance and reliab...

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$103K - $110K *

Champion advanced manufacturing practices by leading process improvements, enhancing safety, quality, and efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and ensure robust prod...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Advance your career by owning the R&D lifecycle of cryogenic photonic networks. Lead the design and fabrication of SiN-based components, driving innovation in a collaborative cleanroom environment wit...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Drive the development of cryogenic photonic networks by owning the R&D prototyping lifecycle, designing SiN-based components, and optimizing fabrication processes in a cleanroom environment, significa...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$101K - $135K *

Deliver innovative electrical solutions for complex medical devices, leading R&D projects that enhance women's health technologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and dri...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$90K - $120K *

Join a team that's dedicated to driving product excellence through technical problem-solving and continuous improvement. Lead cross-functional efforts to resolve customer quality issues and enhance pr...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $150K *

Elevate progress at the forefront of digital circuit design, leading the charge in next-gen image sensor technologies. Drive architecture, integration, and validation efforts ensuring high performance...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$91K - $169K *

Drive innovative semiconductor process formulations and lead projects to define, fabricate, and evaluate semiconductor devices. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement process improvement...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$196K - $220K *

Lead and inspire a distributed team in executing a strategic computer vision roadmap, ensuring high-priority projects are prioritized and delivered effectively while fostering cross-functional collabo...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Champion customer success by transforming needs into actionable solutions. Collaborate with teams to enhance workflows, shape product roadmaps, and ensure meaningful outcomes for clients while driving...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$256K - $293K *

Lead the charge in developing and delivering cutting-edge EO/IR instruments. Oversee a growing engineering team, ensuring alignment with mission objectives while managing performance, cost, and schedu...

2 days ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative embedded software solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and mentor junior engineers while ensuring high-quality d...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Drive innovation by designing and developing embedded software for optical networking systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and mentor junior engineers while...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $155K *

Transform technology by designing and developing embedded software solutions, enhancing product performance, and mentoring junior engineers while collaborating across teams to drive innovation and eff...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to design and develop embedded software for optical networking products, enhancing performance and efficiency while mentoring junior engineers and collaborating across teams to dri...

Markham, ONIn-Person

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Accelerate your career by designing and developing cutting-edge embedded software solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and mentor junior engineers while dr...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$136K - $217K *

Shape the future of robotics by leading a hands-on team to evaluate and benchmark innovative platforms. Drive methodology, manage engineers, and ensure results guide strategic decisions across the org...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$130K - $155K *

Grow your career with a Senior Staff Field Application Engineer role, driving customer success through technical support in fiber optics and collaborating with engineering teams to enhance product sol...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$135K - $160K *

Advance cutting-edge fiber optic technologies while providing critical technical support to clients in data centers and telecom sectors. Leverage your expertise to bridge engineering teams and custome...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

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.