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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$130K - $169K *

Shape the future of surgical technology by designing cutting-edge FPGA solutions. Collaborate with engineering teams and mentor juniors while innovating advanced hardware for next-gen eye surgery equi...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$178K - $253K *

Innovate solutions by applying advanced research to real-world challenges, leveraging machine learning and software engineering to drive impactful projects from conception to execution while collabora...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Reimagine ultrasound engineering by leading system architecture and signal processing. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance imaging quality while ensuring compliance and innovation in clinical wo...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$212K - $265K *

Champion product quality by leading cross-functional teams to ensure world-class standards in semiconductor manufacturing. Drive risk management and quality metrics to enhance product reliability and...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $270K *

Join a team that's driving innovation in SSD hardware design, leading projects from concept to production. Collaborate across the product lifecycle to enhance performance and reliability in high-effic...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$92K - $114K *

Lead strategic continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational excellence, drive productivity, and foster a culture of Lean methodologies across cross-functional teams, ensuring sustainable...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$92K - $114K *

Join a team that's driving operational excellence through strategic continuous improvement initiatives. Lead cross-functional projects, optimize processes, and foster a culture of Lean methodologies t...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$94K - $126K *

Optimize component selection and evaluations while collaborating with design engineers. Ensure high-quality, cost-effective components for new designs, navigate obsolescence, and support sustained eng...

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $150K *

Drive innovation as a hands-on engineer, leading the design and development of advanced photomask handling systems. Collaborate across teams to enhance product performance and manufacturing efficiency...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in managing electronic component selection and lifecycle strategies, collaborating across teams to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and compliance for innovative residential an...

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$138K - $165K *

Join a team that optimizes silicon implementations for advanced wearable tech. Collaborate cross-functionally to lead the physical design process from floorplanning to tapeout, ensuring high-performan...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$138K - $165K *

Lead the charge in optimizing silicon implementations as a Physical Design Engineer, driving physical design methodology and collaborating with teams to ensure performance targets are met for advanced...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in transforming RTL designs into optimized silicon implementations across various physical design stages, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver efficient, high-performan...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Join a dynamic team to drive the physical design of complex ASICs, optimizing the path from RTL to silicon. Collaborate across disciplines to influence designs for next-gen wearable and spatial comput...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Innovate with us to develop advanced perception algorithms for robotics, enhancing manufacturing capabilities. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, leveraging your expertise in computer vi...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$205K - $260K *

Optimize test strategies and lead execution for high-speed mixed-signal silicon products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product quality, yield, and time to market in a fast-paced...

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Champion innovation in optical interconnect technologies, leading the design and development of advanced solutions for high-performance computing and networking applications, while collaborating with...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Drive innovation by designing and building complex semiconductor fabrication systems, ensuring rapid prototyping and collaboration across disciplines to meet production needs effectively. Bring your c...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in optimizing process engineering strategies and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance manufacturing efficiency and mentor teams, ensuri...

Yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$186K - $250K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of AI accelerators through innovative electrical design. Lead system-level solutions, collaborate across disciplines, and drive projects from concept to productio...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $120K *

Join a dynamic team to enhance wafer fabrication processes, solve complex issues, and drive yield improvements in a cutting-edge semiconductor environment. Collaborate with experts to optimize operati...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$95K - $120K *

Advance your career as a process engineer, collaborating with a skilled team to enhance wafer fabrication processes, solve complex issues, and drive yield improvements in a dynamic manufacturing envir...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$95K - $120K *

Analyze and enhance wafer fabrication processes while collaborating with a skilled team. Drive yield improvements, troubleshoot complex issues, and implement solutions to maintain world-class standard...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$130K - $150K *

Lead the charge in advancing military communications systems through innovative research and program management, ensuring alignment with operational needs and strategic objectives across multiple conc...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$175K - $225K *

Drive innovation by leading the design and integration of advanced laser systems for quantum technologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve ultra-low noise performance and mentor jun...

1 week ago

  •   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.