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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$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

$110K - $130K *

Drive the development of complex photonic integrated circuit layouts, translating designs into manufacturable formats while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to optimize performance and suppo...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$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...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Champion regional growth by driving revenue and developing opportunities for the IOS sensor portfolio through collaboration with Sales, Product Lines, and Channel Partners, ensuring alignment and exec...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$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 6 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

$120K - $224K *

Join a team that's driving innovation in Electro-Optical engineering. Leverage your expertise in EO modeling and analysis to tackle complex challenges and contribute to advanced defense systems. Colla...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$122K - $184K *

Lead the charge in designing and analyzing optomechanical systems for advanced imaging and sensing applications, ensuring robust performance in challenging environments while collaborating with cross...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$122K - $184K *

Oversee the mechanical design and analysis of optical assemblies for development and flight hardware, ensuring performance in demanding environments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$94K - $141K *

Transform high-volume manufacturing by optimizing photolithography processes, driving continuous improvements, and collaborating across engineering teams to enhance yield and efficiency in semiconduct...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$108K - $162K *

Join a dynamic team of Electro Optical Engineers to develop advanced missile defense systems. Collaborate on innovative solutions that enhance national security while leveraging cutting-edge optical t...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$107K - $204K *

Pioneer the integration and validation of advanced electro-optical systems, ensuring hardware cohesion across optics, electronics, and software for exceptional performance. Collaborate with a multidis...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $105K *

Unlock your potential by overseeing lab operations, managing inventory, and ensuring safety protocols. Collaborate with research teams to enhance lab performance while leading a dedicated technician i...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$77K - $129K *

Transform product quality by developing and implementing robust quality control methods. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance processes, investigate nonconformances, and ensure complianc...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$199K - $274K *

Champion innovation and product development in advanced optical components. Lead a global team to enhance product capabilities, drive new initiatives, and align strategic goals, ensuring timely and bu...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Join our team to lead product qualification and compliance efforts in the optical device industry. Drive reliability analysis, oversee testing, and ensure global regulatory adherence while collaborati...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Join us to lead product qualification and compliance in the optical device industry. Drive FIT rate analysis, oversee testing, and ensure global regulatory adherence while collaborating with experts t...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in ensuring product reliability and compliance through rigorous testing, analysis, and collaboration with experts. Drive qualification processes for optical devices while adhering to g...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 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.