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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Senior Supplier Sourcing Engineer, Intelligence Systems (Active Clearance)
$146K - $194K *
Manage supplier sourcing and development for advanced defense systems. Collaborate across teams to optimize costs and drive timely delivery while ensuring quality and compliance throughout the product...
Reposted 1 week ago
$168K - $312K *
Drive innovation in AI/ML by developing scalable computer vision systems that enhance scientific imaging data analysis, collaborating with diverse teams to accelerate the discovery of transformative t...
3 days ago
Senior Equipment Engineer, Wet Chemical Process, Raxium
$144K - $208K *
Elevate the future of semiconductor technology by managing and optimizing wet chemical process equipment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance tool uptime and drive innovation in MicroLE...
2 weeks ago
Senior Digital Design Engineer
$145K - $175K *
Join a dynamic team to develop innovative front-end circuit designs for high-performance network controllers, focusing on micro-architecture and seamless IP integration while utilizing advanced commun...
3 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of manufacturing excellence, driving continuous improvement and innovation. Collaborate across teams to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and ensure successful p...
1 week ago
Senior Wet Etch Manufacturing Development Engineer
$155K - $298K *
Unlock potential by driving semiconductor manufacturing innovations that enable next-gen technologies. Collaborate with suppliers, optimize processes, and influence the tech roadmap, ensuring high-yie...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Wet Etch Manufacturing Development Engineer
$155K - $298K *
Drive innovation in semiconductor manufacturing by advancing manufacturing processes and technologies. Lead the design and optimization of next-gen devices to enhance production efficiency and product...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Electro-Optics Materials and Device Engineer
$140K - $265K *
Unlock potential by leading advanced research in electro-optical systems. Collaborate with a dynamic team to innovate solutions for imaging and sensing technologies, impacting military applications th...
Reposted 1 week ago
Electro-Optics Materials and Device Engineer
$140K - $265K *
Drive innovative research in advanced electro-optical designs. Collaborate within a dynamic team to explore solutions and forecast system performance. Shape strategies while addressing complex challen...
Reposted 1 week ago
Sr. Manager, Technical Program Manager
$150K - $180K *
Drive the successful execution of technical programs, managing R&D and manufacturing activities to meet customer specifications and delivery timelines while ensuring accountability and continuous impr...
2 weeks ago
Sr. Manager, Technical Program Manager
$150K - $180K *
Lead the charge in managing comprehensive technical programs from concept to delivery. Collaborate with teams to define program goals, monitor progress, and implement continuous improvements to ensure...
3 weeks ago
Photolithography Process Development Engineer
$114K - $171K *
Join a team that's focused on developing and optimizing lithography processes for advanced semiconductor packaging, driving continuous improvement and collaboration across engineering disciplines to m...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Principal Signal Integrity Engineer
$140K - $321K *
Lead the charge in defining signal integrity strategies and architectures for next-gen storage systems, influencing design methodologies and engineering standards across multiple platforms to drive in...
3 days ago
Principal Signal Integrity Engineer
$147K - $279K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of storage technology by defining signal integrity strategies and driving architectural excellence across multiple platforms. Your expertise will influence next-g...
3 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Lead the development and optimization of dimensional inspection strategies, ensuring compliance and product conformity in a regulated medical device environment while providing technical expertise and...
1 week ago
$120K - $160K *
Innovate manufacturing processes and documentation for high-quality production, ensuring smooth transitions from prototype to full-rate. Collaborate with engineering to boost efficiency and drive cont...
1 month ago
Senior Supplier Quality Engineer, PCB/PCBA
$146K - $194K *
Drive high-quality outcomes by partnering with design teams and suppliers in the precision machining of parts for missile and aircraft programs while enhancing processes and ensuring compliance across...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Principal Foundry Quality Engineer
$120K - $145K *
Unlock potential by leading predictive quality methodologies and enhancing foundry processes. Collaborate with engineering teams to drive improvements in silicon photonic products, ensuring high relia...
2 weeks ago
Staff Engineer, Cinema Technology
$170K - $234K *
Lead the charge in developing cutting-edge audio/video software for cinema, ensuring real-time security and innovative technology integration across embedded platforms while guiding a talented enginee...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Electronics Test Engineer
$133K - $161K *
Champion the design and execution of advanced test systems for electronics, leveraging your hardware and software expertise. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to enhance testing efficiency for...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $165K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of aviation by leading the industrialization of complex mechanical and electromechanical products. Drive manufacturing excellence from development to production...
1 week ago
Senior Engineering Project Manager
$155K - $210K *
Champion the execution of complex NPI and development programs, managing multiple projects from concept to launch. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive success in a dynamic, matrixed envir...
2 days ago
$180K - $230K *
Transform complex DSP challenges into innovative solutions, providing strategic technical leadership and mentoring across multiple engineering programs while ensuring alignment with organizational obj...
5 days ago
Software Engineer, Staff (Full Stack)
$150K - $180K *
Lead the development of innovative AI systems, collaborating across teams to build scalable, reliable features. Drive technical execution and mentor peers while shaping the product vision in a fast-pa...
1 week ago
Senior Forward Deployed Engineer
$138K - $165K *
Transform customer data into innovative GenAI solutions. Collaborate with clients to tackle complex challenges, design systems, and enhance product features, ensuring lasting impact and continuous imp...
2 weeks ago
What does a Senior Optical Engineer do?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.