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.
III-V Device Design Engineer for Silicon Photonics Integration
$135K - $160K *
Elevate your career by designing advanced III-V devices for cutting-edge Si-Photonics solutions. Join a collaborative team driving innovation in optical communications, optimizing device performance...
Reposted today
Staff Hardware Design Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Champion innovation in hardware design as a senior technical leader, influencing architecture decisions and driving design excellence across multiple product lines in a regulated environment. Collabor...
1 week ago
Staff Software Engineer, Agentic Pipeline Generation
$150K - $180K *
Join a dynamic team to lead innovative projects that leverage AI and automation, enhancing customer engagement and prospect discovery. Drive impactful solutions through hands-on leadership and collabo...
1 week ago
$125K - $150K *
Drive innovation by owning production systems that enhance appliance repair efficiency, leveraging cutting-edge AI to optimize diagnostics and service calls. Collaborate closely with engineers to rapi...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Engineering Manager, RF Hardware
$138K - $165K *
Empower a high-performing RF hardware engineering team to deliver innovative, manufacturable electronics for advanced communication systems, ensuring technical excellence and timely production across...
1 week ago
Senior Engineering Manager, RF Hardware
$218K - $266K *
Drive the development of high-performance RF hardware by leading a skilled team, ensuring technical excellence and timely delivery from design to production while fostering a culture of engineering ri...
1 week ago
Staff/Sr Staff Technical Program Manager, Hardware Systems
$189K - $252K *
Drive program execution across hardware development, ensuring alignment and timely delivery across diverse engineering teams and external partners throughout the product lifecycle...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$96K - $179K *
Empower innovation by designing and developing embedded firmware for advanced network technologies. Collaborate with engineers on product enhancements and drive high-quality firmware solutions in a dy...
3 weeks ago
$96K - $179K *
Elevate your career by designing and developing advanced embedded firmware for innovative network testing products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create high-quality solutions and mentor...
3 weeks ago
Software Development Engineer, Amazon Optics
$143K - $194K *
Transform security solutions by designing innovative software that protects AWS sites. Collaborate with a passionate team to tackle complex challenges and automate efficiencies, ensuring robust securi...
2 weeks ago
$145K - $175K *
Empower your career by leading the design and implementation of advanced navigation systems for spacecraft. Collaborate with a dynamic team to ensure mission success through innovative algorithms and...
2 weeks ago
Senior Technical Engagements & Knowledge Management Lead
$120K - $176K *
Lead the charge in strategic knowledge management and executive support for high-visibility initiatives, ensuring seamless collaboration across agencies and fostering key partnerships for mission succ...
Reposted 1 week ago
$130K - $160K *
Transform customer interactions with cutting-edge AI, optimize workflows and enhance service efficiency while collaborating with tech and business teams to deliver impactful software solutions in real...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Quantum Engineer, Hybrid Interconnect
$138K - $190K *
Lead the charge in advancing quantum technology by developing hybrid interconnects for scalable systems. Collaborate with experts to create innovative devices that enhance performance and bridge quant...
6 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Explore the impact of your designs as you develop electrical solutions for diverse energy projects, ensuring quality and efficiency from concept through to commissioning. Join a team that tackles chal...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Engineer, Quality Assurance
$77K - $129K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of medical technology by leading critical investigations and driving quality improvements that enhance patient safety and product performance throughout the produc...
Today
Senior Engineer, Quality Assurance
$77K - $129K *
Lead critical investigations and drive quality improvements in medical technology, ensuring patient safety and compliance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and up...
Today
Senior Product Development Engineer - Medical Devices
$110K - $130K *
Innovate in medical device development by leading complex projects from concept to manufacturing. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality outcomes while mentoring junior enginee...
2 weeks ago
Senior Product Development Engineer - Medical Devices
$110K - $130K *
Champion breakthrough medical device designs while leading cross-functional teams. Drive innovative solutions from concept to manufacturing, ensuring high-quality outcomes and compliance with industry...
3 weeks ago
Hardware Lead Engineer, Hyperscale Line of Business
$217K - $326K *
Elevate hardware engineering operations by leading the lifecycle management of high-performance, energy-efficient storage architectures, ensuring robust solutions for hyperscale partners through colla...
3 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Shape the future of advanced RFIC design by leading the development of beamformer circuits for phased array systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation from architecture to si...
1 week ago
Staff Engineer, Analog Design Engineering
$120K - $145K *
Lead the design of advanced analog and mixed-signal ICs, providing technical expertise and mentorship while collaborating across teams to drive innovation and achieve performance goals across diverse...
Reposted 1 month ago
Supplier Quality Engineer II - Endoscopy SFMD
$75K - $142K *
Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams to ensure product quality and compliance in the medical device sector. Drive quality improvements, conduct audits, and support new product develop...
2 weeks ago
Electro-Optical Integration & Test Engineer II
$68K - $131K *
Join a team that's pioneering electro-optical system integration, validating advanced imaging subsystems. Collaborate across disciplines to ensure performance, support production transitions, and cont...
3 weeks ago
$89K - $169K *
Join a team that's redefining sterilization processes by providing advanced technical leadership and guidance in EtO sterilization, driving continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring compliance...
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.