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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$112K - $149K *

Innovate packaging solutions within a dynamic Supply Chain team, ensuring protection and transport of high-value products. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance efficiency and quality in a fast-pa...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$70K - $102K *

Join a dynamic team to enhance quality processes in medical device manufacturing. Leverage your expertise in quality engineering, problem-solving, and compliance to drive innovation and ensure product...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in shaping a world-class Quality Management System while driving continuous improvement and compliance across global operations in a dynamic manufacturing setting. Your expertise will...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Lead and mentor RTL design engineers, optimizing microarchitectural features and ensuring successful project delivery in a collaborative, innovative environment for semiconductor solutions...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$57K - $104K *

Unlock your potential as you develop and test advanced algorithms for Electronic Warfare programs, enhancing sensor efficacy in complex environments while collaborating with experts to drive innovatio...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$140K - $230K *

Transform the manufacturing of high-reliability avionics hardware by leading process optimization, collaborating across teams, and driving continuous improvement. Engage in new product introductions a...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Accelerate retention efforts by owning strategy, execution, and measurement across patient lifecycle, leading initiatives that enhance engagement and satisfaction while driving compliance within healt...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$86K - $165K *

Unlock potential by driving manufacturing process improvements and optimizing operations for Major Rotating Parts. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance first pass yield and reduce costs...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$155K - $258K *

Champion innovation by leading the design of advanced control solutions for vacuum valves, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop cutting-edge mechanical products that meet customer nee...

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $180K *

Transform semiconductor device testing by designing automation and test structures. Collaborate with engineers to enhance CMOS characterization processes in a dynamic startup atmosphere, contributing...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$141K - $207K *

Unlock your potential by driving innovation in embedded firmware development. Collaborate with experts to enhance image alignment systems, optimize algorithms, and deliver cutting-edge solutions in hi...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$123K - $167K *

Engineer innovative computer vision solutions by developing algorithms for image processing, object detection, and model optimization. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance robotic system...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$123K - $167K *

Unlock potential by developing cutting-edge computer vision algorithms for robotic systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance image processing, optimize models, and integrate solution...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of embedded systems by leading firmware architecture, mentoring engineers, and driving product development from concept to launch. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver i...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Elevate your career by leading the layout design of complex analog and mixed-signal IP blocks. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass silicon success while mentoring junior engin...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of high-speed analog design by leading layout development for complex analog and mixed-signal IP blocks. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass silicon success w...

San Jose, CARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in high-speed analog layout design for cutting-edge optical communication systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass silicon success while mentoring junior e...

Irvine, CARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead the design of complex analog/mixed-signal layouts, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Mentor junior engineers while driving innovative soluti...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$163K - $236K *

Empower innovation in AI/ML hardware acceleration by driving cutting-edge TPU technology. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize physical design, ensuring high performance and efficiency...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $202K *

Join as a technical leader specializing in electro-optical infrared modeling, leading the development of image processing algorithms and high-fidelity simulations in a team-oriented environment focuse...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$93K - $151K *

Join a team that's pioneering advanced non-intrusive diagnostic techniques, supporting critical aerospace testing. Collaborate on system design and implementation, ensuring safety and innovation in en...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Drive innovation by automating high-performance analog and mixed-signal designs. Lead a dynamic team to enhance methodologies for analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters while transforming...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$135K - $160K *

Drive hands-on evaluation of prototype silicon, collaborating across teams to develop product collateral and provide technical support, ensuring high-quality RFIC measurements and automation in a fast...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$126K - $140K *

Shape the future of customer success by owning technical onboarding, guiding clients through implementation, optimizing deployments, and ensuring adherence to best practices for optimal use of the pla...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's transforming innovative designs into scalable production. As a Manufacturing Engineer, you'll develop processes, resolve build issues, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

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.