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.
Principal Systems Engineer - AV Sensor Design
$238K - $365K *
Join a team that's redefining lidar technology for autonomy products. Lead the technical strategy, collaborate with experts, and drive innovations from concept to production, ensuring performance and...
5 days ago
Principal Systems Engineer - AV Sensor Design
$238K - $365K *
Unlock your potential as a principal systems engineer, leading lidar technology development and integration for advanced autonomy systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation a...
5 days ago
Senior / Principal Solutions Engineer, Physics AI
$135K - $160K *
Join us to transform engineering challenges into innovative solutions. Collaborate with teams to enhance simulation workflows, deliver tailored demonstrations, and drive customer success through techn...
6 days ago
Senior Parts and Reliability Engineer
$120K - $200K *
Champion parts engineering and reliability assurance for space missions. Lead selection, qualification, and reliability analysis of components, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure miss...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$157K - $176K *
Innovate power integrity solutions by leading cross-functional teams to optimize Power Delivery Networks. Collaborate on architecture design and system analysis, driving projects from conception to va...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Test Engineering Manager
$190K - $230K *
Innovate with us to lead a team in manufacturing test and product validation for high-voltage power electronics. Drive strategy, enhance test systems, and ensure operational excellence across all prod...
2 weeks ago
New Product Introduction (NPI) Engineer
$134K - $189K *
Drive the introduction of innovative products by collaborating with engineering teams and manufacturers. Ensure high-quality production processes and troubleshoot complex systems to enhance efficiency...
5 days ago
Senior Electrical Engineer - Special Programs
$110K - $130K *
Engage with us to design and test innovative electrical systems for complex autonomous platforms. Collaborate with a dynamic team to tackle technical challenges in power management, embedded systems...
2 weeks ago
Lead Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Elevate innovation in embedded software development, driving feature design and performance improvements while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance product efficiency and customer sati...
Yesterday
Lead Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of embedded software development, driving innovation in optical networking. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and deliver cutt...
Yesterday
Lead Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Develop and enhance software features for embedded systems in optical networking. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve product performance and ensure documentation accuracy while driving...
Yesterday
Lead Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Empower our team by designing and developing innovative software solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and drive best practices in embedded systems for opti...
4 days ago
Lead Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Drive software development and enhance optical networking solutions by designing features, resolving issues, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve product performance and documentat...
4 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead the development of innovative medical devices, transforming concepts into market-ready solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance, quality, and customer satisfaction...
Today
$91K - $169K *
Unlock potential by designing and developing advanced light-emitting devices. Lead research on laser technology while creating precise electronic circuitry and optics to meet demanding specifications...
4 weeks ago
$220K - $275K *
Invent innovative hardware solutions by leading product design and engineering processes from concept to mass production, leveraging customer insights and cross-functional collaboration to drive impac...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by leading advanced manufacturing initiatives, optimizing processes, and driving continuous improvement. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance equipment reliability and a...
2 weeks ago
$115K - $145K *
Innovate with us to transform manufacturing processes and lead teams in delivering cutting-edge assembly for advanced technologies. Drive improvement, optimize production, and ensure quality while col...
3 weeks ago
Sr. Research & Development Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Transform the future of optical fiber technology by leading R&D initiatives, optimizing silica glass materials, and driving innovation in manufacturing processes. Engage with cross-functional teams to...
3 weeks ago
$92K - $140K *
Shape the future of manufacturing by driving technical readiness and optimizing processes for innovative 3D printing tools. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure product specifications and quality...
2 weeks ago
Electrical Engineer, Reality Labs Hardware
$120K - $145K *
Take ownership of prototype electronics, designing and integrating custom hardware for next-gen AR/VR displays. Collaborate across teams to ensure performance and reliability, transforming innovative...
1 week ago
Staff Engineer, Supply Chain (R6228)
$140K - $220K *
Optimize supplier performance by driving quality improvements and enhancing processes. Collaborate with engineering and operations to support new product introductions and mitigate supply chain risks...
1 week ago
Sr. Analytical and Reliability Scientist
$120K - $162K *
Engineer innovative analytical methods and product testing for a cutting-edge CCL R&D program. Lead cross-functional teams to establish reliability assessments and ensure high-quality standards in a d...
1 week ago
$88K - $105K *
Grow your career by providing Design Quality Engineering support for product development, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance quality...
2 weeks ago
Senior DFx Manufacturing Engineer
$146K - $194K *
Drive design for manufacturability and cost across avionics and electronics subsystems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance producibility and supplier capabilities, ensuring efficient p...
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.