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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$180K - $256K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of AI-driven scientific platforms. You’ll design, build, and optimize backend systems and data infrastructures, collaborating with experts to elevate orchestratio...

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by leading the development of innovative imaging and measurement systems. Collaborate across teams to enhance operational efficiency and drive technical solutions that support product...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$150K - $280K *

Drive innovation in Electro-Optical systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance missile defense and space exploration capabilities through cutting-edge design, integration, and testi...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $251K *

Join a team that's innovating laser and electro-optical device design. Conduct cutting-edge research, develop intricate designs, and analyze applications across various sectors, improving performance...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $120K *

Elevate product reliability by leading test methodologies and failure analysis for next-gen lidar systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality and manufacturability throughout th...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $200K *

Drive innovation as a strategic leader in engineering, overseeing multi-disciplinary teams to develop advanced Aerosol Jet manufacturing solutions while ensuring integration and scalability across sys...

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$225K - $275K *

Shape the future of high-speed optical interconnects by leading the Co-Packaged Optics strategy. Collaborate across teams to drive innovation, develop product roadmaps, and engage customers, ensuring...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$225K - $275K *

Develop and execute innovative strategies for Co-Packaged Optics, driving market leadership in fiber connectivity. Collaborate across teams to enhance product offerings and customer engagement, while...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$178K - $287K *

Drive innovative machine learning solutions by leading cross-functional teams to deliver real-time safety insights from AI dash cameras, leveraging data from various sources to enhance fleet safety an...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the development of innovative III-V semiconductor laser layouts, driving design productivity and collaboration across teams to ensure manufacturable, high-quality products from concept to product...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$167K - $193K *

Elevate testing practices for high-speed I/O interfaces by developing effective strategies, executing thorough validations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to transition innovations into...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$114K - $234K *

Join a dynamic team as a System Technical Lead, driving board design and integration for next-gen server systems. Collaborate across engineering disciplines to shape architecture, validate prototypes...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $200K *

Innovate high-speed connector systems by leading signal integrity efforts, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring product excellence from design to production. Drive advanced solution...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$104K - $114K *

Unlock growth as you lead product strategies for optical networking solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive profitability, customer satisfaction, and market penetration while manag...

New London, CTRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$104K - $114K *

Lead the Approved Networks product line, driving growth and profitability through strategic management, customer engagement, and cross-functional collaboration. Shape product strategies and ensure mar...

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$128K - $286K *

Innovate cutting-edge satellite location systems by enhancing accuracy and exploring downlink beacon technology. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transform research into production-ready sol...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$125K - $150K *

Help us drive innovation by leveraging your expertise in electrical engineering to develop, test, and validate cutting-edge Pro AV products. This hands-on role demands strong troubleshooting skills an...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$100K - $120K *

Drive the development of advanced defense products by collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to establish clear system requirements and verification strategies, while mentoring junior engineers an...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Drive software engineering excellence by leading a team focused on disciplined practices, agile workflows, and continuous improvement. Ensure compliance with industry standards while fostering collabo...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$77K - $129K *

Explore a dynamic role in electrical engineering, focusing on innovative medical devices. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and validate electrical components that enhance pa...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$136K - $190K *

Create innovative mechanical designs for custom robotics configurations, collaborating with engineers to iterate and validate designs through simulation and physical testing, ensuring optimal performa...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$75K - $90K *

Unlock potential by joining a dynamic team focused on process improvement and quality management in a manufacturing environment. Ideal for recent graduates ready to tackle real-world challenges and dr...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$85K - $125K *

Explore innovative solutions in 3D print optimization to enhance performance. Collaborate across disciplines, drive analysis, and create customer-focused advancements in SLA & SLS technologies for unp...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$85K - $125K *

Accelerate progress at the intersection of 3D printing technology and performance by solving complex multi-disciplinary challenges through hands-on experimentation and analysis, driving enhanced custo...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$85K - $125K *

Optimize print performance by analyzing complex multi-disciplinary challenges. Drive innovative solutions in 3D printing technology, enhancing speed and reliability for customer satisfaction through h...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer 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.