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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
Locations
caret down
More
1
caret down

$130K - $165K *

Analyze and optimize supply chain data to enhance inventory management and logistics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure accuracy and visibility, driving efficiency and supporting criti...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Optimize supplier performance by evaluating, selecting, and guiding suppliers to meet quality, cost, and delivery standards. Drive continuous improvement in manufacturing processes while supporting ne...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$133K - $160K *

Empower innovation by leading complex test activities, ensuring product verification through functional, integration, and acceptance testing. Collaborate cross-functionally to resolve technical issues...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$89K - $148K *

Drive manufacturing excellence by leading engineering projects, optimizing processes, and ensuring compliance in a regulated environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product qua...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$165K - $185K *

Advance engineering excellence by developing and executing FEA models for robotic medical devices, ensuring optimal performance and reliability through innovative design and collaboration across multi...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$124K - $151K *

Unlock potential by integrating quality principles into the design and development of innovative electronic and semiconductor products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust quality...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $165K *

Shape your career by leading the onboarding and management of engineering tools, ensuring effective integration and sustainability across teams in a dynamic startup environment, fostering innovation a...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$114K - $182K *

Join a team that's pioneering high-speed photonic components for advanced optical communications. Leverage your RF/microwave engineering expertise to design, simulate, and optimize cutting-edge techno...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$102K - $163K *

Transform your career by leveraging your RF/microwave engineering expertise to design, simulate, and optimize high-speed optoelectronic components within a dynamic R&D team focused on advanced optical...

Quebec, QCIn-Person

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$150K - $400K *

Lead transformative projects by embedding with hardware teams to develop innovative agentic systems. Drive end-to-end solutions in a fast-paced environment, tackling critical challenges that shape the...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $165K *

Lead the evaluation and onboarding of engineering software tools, ensuring effective integration and management of systems. Collaborate with internal teams and vendors to streamline tool lifecycle pro...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$95K - $115K *

Transform military systems design and development by leveraging your expertise in electrical engineering. Collaborate on cutting-edge projects involving radar, RF systems, and advanced circuitry to en...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $161K *

Pioneer advanced technical support functions, enabling optimal setup and operation of ion implantation processes. Collaborate with engineering and customer teams to drive innovation and resolve comple...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$185K - $240K *

Innovate the electrical architecture of next-gen smart cable modules, driving design direction and engineering standards. Lead cross-functional teams to deliver high-reliability products for advanced...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Transform the future of maritime technology by designing and integrating advanced electrical systems for sensing platforms, ensuring robust performance and collaboration across engineering teams...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$146K - $194K *

Take ownership of the Body subsystem for a maritime autonomous vehicle, leading design and integration of structural, propulsion, and buoyancy systems from concept to production while managing budgets...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Empower talent acquisition strategies across North America operations, leading recruitment initiatives for diverse business groups. Drive innovative programs, enhance brand awareness, and develop a hi...

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$118K - $171K *

Drive innovation as you collaborate with engineers to craft cutting-edge photonic solutions. Define microarchitecture and document specifications for groundbreaking products, leveraging your expertise...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join us to lead the mechanical design of radar sensor nodes, driving innovation from concept to production. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust, cost-effective solutions for outdo...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$150K - $180K *

Innovate in the realm of analog design by developing high-speed circuits for cutting-edge photonic AI platforms. Lead the full lifecycle of analog blocks, ensuring performance and integrity in a colla...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$172K - $203K *

Help us enhance product quality by leading failure analyses and driving corrective actions for cutting-edge electronic devices, ensuring safety and reliability from design through to mass production a...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$130K - $160K *

Drive the integration and validation of complex photonic quantum systems, ensuring performance and reliability through advanced test strategies, operational readiness, and cross-functional collaborati...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$75K - $100K *

Explore a dynamic 24-month Process Engineering Rotational Program, engaging in hands-on projects across various semiconductor processes. Collaborate with mentors and teams to enhance production effici...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$140K - $260K *

Take ownership of high-performance SOC implementation, leading a team to optimize designs, ensure timing closure, and collaborate with RTL and verification teams for successful tape-out...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$140K - $260K *

Transform complex SOC designs by leading implementation, verification, and timing closure efforts. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high-performance hardware meets industry standards...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise 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.