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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$120K - $145K *

Elevate your impact by developing innovative image-analysis tools and workflows. Collaborate with scientists to optimize image-based methods for precise measurements and enhance repeatable targeting s...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$185K - $233K *

Transform photonics technology by architecting innovative designs for communication systems. Collaborate across disciplines to deliver pioneering products, ensuring robust specifications and performan...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $151K *

Champion the design and development of precision optomechanical systems for advanced optical instruments, leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions for spaceflight and ground app...

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Advance quality assurance by managing QMS processes, ensuring compliance, and leading internal audits. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance documentation practices and drive continuous i...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $185K *

Unlock innovative electrical solutions by leading design efforts from concept to production. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure robust performance in mixed-signal circuit design, while mentoring...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Transform semiconductor manufacturing by leading equipment reliability initiatives, troubleshooting complex systems, and driving continuous improvement projects. Collaborate with teams to enhance oper...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $160K *

Transform manufacturing processes by designing systems and tooling to enhance production efficiency, ensuring seamless transitions from prototype to full-rate production. Join a dynamic team dedicated...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$120K - $145K *

Lead thermal system design and validation for cutting-edge electronic systems. Oversee technical decisions and mentor junior engineers across product lifecycles, ensuring performance and compliance. D...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Engage in the optimization of semiconductor processes, ensuring yield improvement and cost reduction through continuous enhancement initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive operat...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $160K *

Empower innovation as you create complex layouts for RX/TX lane macros and oversee crucial lane-level integration, leveraging your extensive experience in analog design and semiconductor processes to...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$200K - $230K *

Grow your career with a pivotal role leading engineering for innovative cloud apps. Manage a talented team while driving AI integration and ensuring high-quality deliverables that enhance user experie...

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$145K - $187K *

Pioneer innovative Digital Engineering solutions by leading the integration of Model-Based Systems Engineering and AI/ML methodologies, driving modernization efforts across complex Naval Nuclear Labor...

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$99K - $145K *

Drive the establishment of Applications Engineering support for advanced-node customers, executing technical projects and fostering customer relationships throughout the ramp-up and maturation of high...

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $225K *

Join a team that's redefining product development through innovative systems integration. Collaborate on complex electro-mechanical systems and ensure optimal performance from prototypes to production...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$130K - $225K *

Join a team that integrates advanced electro-mechanical systems by designing, testing, and validating prototypes, collaborating across disciplines to ensure high-quality product development. Your expe...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$130K - $225K *

Pioneer the integration of firmware and hardware for complex electro-mechanical systems, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure high-quality prototypes and optimize performance across t...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$80K - $95K *

Optimize the development and testing of advanced optical technologies, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to enhance sensor systems. Engage in both hands-on testing and theoretical analysis t...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $120K *

Pioneer innovative visual storytelling as a Senior Graphic Designer, leading high-impact projects across digital and print. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to elevate brand identity and delive...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$108K - $135K *

Optimize manufacturing processes by developing software tools for automation, data analysis, and engineering support. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance production efficiency and produ...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$108K - $135K *

Optimize your career by developing software tools that enhance manufacturing processes, automate testing, and analyze engineering data to improve product reliability and efficiency in a dynamic engine...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$118K - $224K *

Drive the design and testing of advanced microwave photonic systems, collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver innovative solutions for R&D projects while ensuring adherence to schedules...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$78K - $124K *

Drive quality assurance initiatives by implementing and maintaining the Quality Management System, ensuring compliance with regulations while collaborating on medical device development and validation...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Lead the development of a cutting-edge manufacturing facility, focusing on designing processes, tooling, and equipment. You'll oversee project timelines, collaborate across teams, and ensure high-qual...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Elevate surgical technology by developing advanced navigation solutions for robotic-assisted surgeries. Collaborate with experts to create high-accuracy systems, implement real-time vision algorithms...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$135K - $165K *

Build innovative mixed-signal electronics by leading a technical team while engaging in hands-on design, testing, and integration. Drive cross-functional collaboration to develop state-of-the-art cont...

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

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.