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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$150K - $180K *

Join a dynamic research team to lead the development of III-V active components, driving innovation from design to fabrication and testing, while mentoring engineers and managing external partnerships...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $120K *

Advance innovative laser technology by designing precision opto-mechanical components. Collaborate in a dynamic team to develop robust systems, ensuring quality and performance from concept through pr...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by developing cutting-edge opto-mechanical systems for hyperspectral imaging. Collaborate across disciplines to create robust, manufacturable optical instruments that push the boun...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Deliver cutting-edge etch solutions for next-gen optical devices. Drive R&D efforts, optimize processes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance device performance, quality, and manufac...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$145K - $175K *

Transform the future of display technology by leading optical simulation, design, and validation efforts. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to innovate and enhance consumer products, ensuring to...

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $230K *

Transform optical component engineering by managing precision optics from specification to vendor qualification, ensuring reliable supply and performance for advanced lidar systems. Drive collaboratio...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$105K - $145K *

Empower your career by developing innovative optical processes for cutting-edge MEMS-based products. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance manufacturing efficiency and support high-volume product...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$197K - $276K *

Lead the charge in developing advanced satellite optical communication systems. Drive innovation and optimization of free-space communication technologies while guiding a multidisciplinary team to ach...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$181K - $254K *

Lead the design and optimization of advanced optical communication systems for a satellite constellation, guiding a multidisciplinary team to enhance performance and ensure seamless integration for gl...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Transform micro-optical design by developing microlens arrays and components, bridging EM-scale and package-scale designs, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure manufacturability and performa...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Empower innovation by designing and validating microlens arrays and micro-optical components for high-density photonic packages, bridging system-level requirements with manufacturable designs and coll...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$115K - $151K *

Contribute to the design and validation of advanced optical microsystems, leading complex projects from concept to production. Collaborate across teams to ensure system performance and manufacturabili...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Drive engineering optimization for next-gen optical modules, enhancing performance and yields. Collaborate cross-functionally with teams to support product development from prototype through volume pr...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$108K - $123K *

Help us design and develop cutting-edge optical systems for advanced space missions, leveraging your expertise in optical engineering and adaptive optics to innovate and enhance deep space communicati...

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Contribute to the design and implementation of automated optical systems, enhancing production yield and efficiency through cutting-edge optical alignment, calibration, and testing techniques across m...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Transform your career by designing cutting-edge optical components for advanced communication systems. Collaborate with suppliers, lead qualification activities, and stay ahead of industry trends whil...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$134K - $192K *

Join a dynamic team to oversee the lifecycle management and reliability of optical components in cutting-edge photonic and telecom products, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure perform...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$134K - $201K *

Transform high-speed optical interconnects by developing innovative test and calibration methods. Collaborate with a world-class team to enhance product reliability and performance, driving advancemen...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of optical technology by utilizing your expertise in metrology and testing to ensure high precision in optical components and systems. Collaborate with multidiscip...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$250K - $300K *

Champion the technical strategy and lifecycle management of optical transceivers, ensuring network reliability and scalability. Collaborate cross-functionally to drive innovations in optical interconn...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$250K - $300K *

Join us to shape the future of optical networking by leading the strategy and qualification of cutting-edge optical technologies, ensuring high-performance connectivity for AI workloads across our glo...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$250K - $300K *

Innovate optical transceiver strategies and lifecycle management to enhance network reliability and scalability. Collaborate cross-functionally to drive vendor relationships and ensure optimal perform...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Lead the design and optimization of cutting-edge optical systems, utilizing advanced software tools. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions that meet performance stan...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Empower healthcare innovations by designing compact optical systems that combine advanced photonic devices with optical components. Collaborate in a dynamic team to develop transformative solutions fo...

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$137K - $185K *

Help us advance quantum computing by leading optical systems engineering efforts. Collaborate with technical teams to define requirements, manage subsystem integration, and ensure successful verificat...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

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.