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.
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
Principal Process Engineer - Etch
$85K - $146K *
Elevate semiconductor manufacturing processes by driving continuous improvement, executing experiments, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance performance, yield, and reliability in...
Yesterday
$160K - $185K *
Lead technical innovation in the design and development of cutting-edge medical devices, collaborating cross-functionally to ensure manufacturability and compliance from concept through commercial rel...
1 week ago
Senior Design Quality Engineer
$102K - $163K *
Unlock your potential as you lead design quality initiatives, ensuring compliance and excellence in product development. Drive continuous improvement and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enh...
6 days ago
Electrical Engineer / System Support Engineer
$122K - $152K *
Drive the design and integration of electrical systems for X-ray imaging platforms, ensuring compliance and peak performance. Collaborate across teams to support the full product lifecycle, from devel...
1 week ago
$125K - $150K *
Design and own scalable backend systems and APIs, ensuring high performance and reliability. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, mentor engineers, and make architectural decisions in a dynamic en...
2 weeks ago
$88K - $105K *
Elevate the production portfolio of innovative sensor technologies by managing engineering changes, enhancing design quality, and serving as a technical contact for cross-functional teams and customer...
3 weeks ago
Senior Process Engineer, Assay Development
$131K - $140K *
Shape the future of clinical genomics by developing automated workflows for NGS assays. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate innovative chemistry into robust, scalable processes ready...
1 week ago
$110K - $150K *
Innovate within a dynamic Ink Materials Development Group to create cutting-edge electrophoretic inks. Collaborate with diverse teams to transition projects from feasibility to commercialization while...
2 weeks ago
Senior Product Development Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Drive the future of aerospace innovation by leading product development initiatives. This role encompasses the full product cycle, focusing on sustainability, efficiency, and groundbreaking designs fo...
Reposted 1 week ago
$166K - $220K *
Join our innovative Air Defense team to integrate cutting-edge sensor technologies, enhancing autonomous systems for modern warfare. Lead sensor hardware development from design to deployment, ensurin...
2 weeks ago
Senior Silicon Design Verification Engineer, YouTube Video Accelerators
$163K - $236K *
Join us in ensuring the functional correctness of advanced video codec ASICs by leading verification strategies and refining methodologies within a dynamic team focused on innovative HLS workflows...
3 weeks ago
Product Line Manager, Contour & Sbend Optical Fiber
$148K - $203K *
Unlock potential by leading global product strategy for fiber lines, managing the entire product lifecycle from positioning to end-of-life, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive profi...
Reposted 1 week ago
$105K - $145K *
Lead the development and implementation of machine vision systems, driving quality inspection and process monitoring. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and mentor...
4 days ago
Media Firmware Development Engineer
$91K - $134K *
Drive innovation in firmware development for cutting-edge SSD technology. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create robust architectures and features, ensuring high-quality product delivery in...
2 weeks ago
Media Firmware Development Engineer
$128K - $201K *
Empower innovation as you develop cutting-edge firmware for SSDs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, utilizing Agile methodologies to enhance product quality and performance while addressing com...
2 weeks ago
Principal Hardware NPI Program Manager
$145K - $175K *
Champion the future of connectivity by leading complex hardware NPI programs from design to launch. Drive cross-functional collaboration and ensure product readiness while managing risks and dependenc...
2 weeks ago
Senior Process Engineer, Aerospace Transparencies
$110K - $135K *
Elevate your career by leading process design and optimization in manufacturing. Drive continuous improvement initiatives, enhance process capability, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ac...
2 weeks ago
Senior Process Engineer, Aerospace Transparencies
$110K - $135K *
Accelerate progress at our manufacturing facility by leading process design and optimization initiatives. Drive continuous improvement and ensure high-quality performance through data-driven methods a...
2 weeks ago
Principal Customer Quality Engineer
$85K - $146K *
Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing quality and reliability in semiconductor manufacturing. Drive cross-functional initiatives, lead quality improvements, and ensure customer satisfaction throug...
1 week ago
Operations and Customer Quality Engineer II - (E2)
$78K - $108K *
Join a dynamic team as you investigate and resolve quality issues in manufacturing. Utilize your engineering expertise to drive corrective actions, enhance product quality, and improve operational per...
6 days ago
$120K - $176K *
Unlock potential by leading innovative engineering projects that enhance technological capabilities and drive continuous improvement. Collaborate across teams to solve complex problems while ensuring...
Yesterday
$120K - $145K *
Lead the development of innovative test solutions, enhancing the semiconductor testing landscape with cutting-edge technologies and strategic customer collaboration across global teams, delivering hig...
3 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.