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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$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...

4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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...

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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...

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $150K *

Lead cross-functional teams to develop and launch innovative metal additive manufactured products, ensuring manufacturability and cost-effective solutions through hands-on technical guidance and colla...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$114K - $182K *

Lead the development of high-performance analog layouts for next-gen broadband solutions. Collaborate with designers, mentor junior engineers, and ensure layout feasibility across advanced BiCMOS tech...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$136K - $217K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of mechatronics innovation, collaborating with diverse teams to design and refine advanced electromechanical systems and robotics solutions, transforming ideas int...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Unlock your potential by providing engineering support in a dynamic production environment, optimizing performance and reliability for cutting-edge PCBA and RF/microwave products while collaborating w...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$147K - $196K *

Join a team that's transforming military capabilities! Lead the manufacture of cutting-edge defense hardware, optimizing processes and innovations while mentoring engineers to achieve excellence in a...

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$140K - $168K *

Join our innovative team to design and develop cutting-edge power electronics for spacecraft. Lead the entire lifecycle from architecture definition to production support, ensuring high reliability an...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$133K - $161K *

Unlock potential by leading end-to-end power electronics development for aerospace applications. Engage in hands-on design, testing, and collaboration, making impactful contributions in a dynamic star...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$191K - $253K *

Optimize production efficiency by developing software solutions and enhancing automation. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure seamless integration of technologies, driving improvements in product...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$117K - $225K *

Explore the forefront of 3D printing technology by architecting innovative hardware solutions. Lead a dynamic team to design and prototype high-performance systems, impacting both product quality and...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$117K - $200K *

Elevate your career by driving innovative mechanical design solutions for high-performance semiconductor systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance legacy systems and ensure optimal m...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Drive innovation in dielectric materials for high-voltage components, enhancing performance in nuclear fusion environments. Collaborate across teams and lead R&D projects to ensure cutting-edge soluti...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$133K - $148K *

Lead the design and development of innovative medical device electronics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance existing products and architect next-gen hardware, ensuring high-quality pe...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$95K - $110K *

Engage as a key quality leader in a dynamic engineering environment, driving manufacturing excellence and quality initiatives across products and processes while collaborating with cross-functional te...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 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.