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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$95K - $115K *

Accelerate progress at improving semiconductor product yield through data analysis, cross-functional collaboration, and effective corrective actions. Drive measurable enhancements in performance and q...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$107K - $204K *

Drive the design and development of advanced infrared imaging systems, ensuring high performance and reliability in challenging environments. Collaborate across disciplines to meet technical, cost, an...

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$124K - $186K *

Drive innovative electrical designs and systems development, ensuring compliance with safety and industry standards while collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions on...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$147K - $202K *

Drive innovation in optical metrology development, leading a team to translate business objectives into actionable strategies while managing technical execution and nurturing talent within a collabora...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$89K - $148K *

Drive the design and development of electrical components for robotic systems, ensuring integration and performance through collaboration with cross-functional teams and adherence to quality standards...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$115K - $120K *

Design and develop cutting-edge electronics for medical devices, ensuring performance and compliance. Collaborate within a project team to bring innovative surgical navigation products to market effic...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$160K - $200K *

Unlock potential by leveraging your expertise in Machine Learning and Computer Vision. You'll enhance systems, build effective ML models, and optimize pipelines to improve performance and real-time in...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Unlock potential by leading the design and simulation of innovative photonic devices, collaborating with a diverse team to advance sensing technologies and enhance product capabilities through cutting...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Join a team that's pioneering the future of integrated photonics, driving innovation in sensing applications. Collaborate with experts to design, simulate, and characterize cutting-edge silicon photon...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$226K - $311K *

Innovate advanced physics-based modeling and simulation technologies for e-beam semiconductor inspection systems, driving technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration to enhance inspection...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in advancing perception systems for cutting-edge hardware. Drive technical direction, optimize performance, and ensure reliability across diverse environments while collaborating with...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$95K - $115K *

Manage the lifecycle of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, enhancing reliability and performance. Lead troubleshooting efforts, support continuous improvement initiatives, and provide technical gu...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Take ownership of experimental design and execution to optimize camera performance for AI models. Collaborate across teams to analyze data, validate results, and enhance imaging systems through scient...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$137K - $192K *

Shape the future of medical device verification by leading complex system assessments, ensuring compliance with standards, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to drive innovations and quality...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $155K *

Lead the charge in deploying cutting-edge electronic hardware for wind turbine fleets, managing a dynamic team while ensuring project success through effective planning, quality assurance, and stakeho...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $145K *

Deliver innovative test solutions for semiconductor systems, leading technical engagements and ensuring seamless integration. Collaborate with customers to optimize designs and drive successful implem...

Massachusetts, USRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Grow your career with a senior role that bridges product development and manufacturing, ensuring prototype readiness and technical performance through hands-on execution, planning, and cross-functiona...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$109K - $151K *

Drive significant improvements in technology and processes by leveraging high-level analysis and problem-solving skills. Collaborate across teams to enhance productivity, quality, and cost-effectivene...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Engage in innovative thermal engineering to develop cutting-edge solutions for military and commercial applications. Drive projects from concept to production, tackling complex challenges through hand...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$78K - $92K *

Drive optical assembly and alignment efforts to advance fusion energy initiatives. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, uphold safety standards, and ensure quality in all processes to significan...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$125K - $150K *

Pioneer innovative hardware solutions by designing complex high-speed systems, validating advanced platforms, and collaborating across teams to ensure optimal performance throughout the product lifecy...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$165K - $185K *

Lead the charge in developing and deploying next-gen optical transceivers for AI and cloud applications through cross-functional collaboration, ensuring timely product readiness and alignment with cus...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$148K - $160K *

Engineer optical systems by designing, building, and testing products in innovative photonics and laser technologies while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive performance and reliabilit...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$88K - $105K *

Empower innovation by ensuring production efficiency in semiconductor fabrication. Analyze process data, maintain equipment, and collaborate on improvement projects to enhance output quality and tool...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$135K - $251K *

Lead the design and development of advanced optical systems, ensuring precision and performance through innovative engineering solutions and collaboration with cross-functional teams...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

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.