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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$170K - $230K *

Empower our team by leading complex DoD programs, ensuring compliance and performance while managing budgets, schedules, and stakeholder relationships. Drive successful execution of High Energy Laser...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$88K - $108K *

Transform product development by leading electromechanical projects from concept to market. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance existing products and drive innovation, ensuring complian...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$210K - $225K *

Drive innovation and lead technical projects in the development of neurovascular medical devices, ensuring quality, compliance, and manufacturability while mentoring and guiding R&D teams to achieve b...

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $225K *

Drive manufacturing excellence by leading a team to enhance production processes, ensuring quality and reliability while transitioning new products into mass production. Collaborate across functions t...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$140K - $180K *

Unlock the future of space technology by designing innovative avionics systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop circuit boards and ensure mission success through rigorous testing an...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Empower innovation by developing and validating materials for cutting-edge electrostatic actuators. This hands-on role combines experimental design, materials science, and lab prototyping to shape the...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$107K - $179K *

Empower innovative PCB designs by developing technical documentation and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance product quality, manufacturability, and serviceability through comprehensi...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$102K - $171K *

Shape the future of medical devices by leading quality engineering for new product introductions, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and driving process improvements in a dynamic, collabora...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$146K - $194K *

Join a dynamic team as a Senior PCB Layout Designer, driving full-cycle PCB design from requirements gathering to integration. Collaborate with engineers to create high-reliability assemblies that mee...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $250K *

Empower teams by owning execution frameworks to deliver mission-critical programs. Coordinate cross-functions and resolve resource conflicts to ensure on-time delivery of hardware/software supporting...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $225K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of semiconductor design automation. In this pivotal role, you'll lead the development of advanced CAD infrastructure for analog and mixed-signal ICs, collaboratin...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $225K *

Engage in shaping advanced design automation infrastructure for analog and mixed-signal IC development. Lead technical initiatives that enhance methodologies and tools, collaborating with global teams...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$125K - $150K *

Drive innovation as you lead a team in designing high-speed I/O cable assemblies for cutting-edge applications. Engage with customers and internal teams to translate requirements into exceptional prod...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's revolutionizing healthcare through innovative software solutions, tackling complex engineering challenges, and making a real impact on patient care in a fast-paced, collaborative en...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$114K - $171K *

Unlock potential by leading the development of innovative Advanced Packaging processes. Collaborate with clients to transform ideas into qualified products, ensuring high yield and seamless integratio...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$114K - $171K *

Unlock potential by leading the development of innovative Advanced Packaging technologies. Collaborate with clients to transform concepts into qualified products, ensuring high yield and seamless inte...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Advance your career by executing synthesis, PNR, and STA for ASIC chips, collaborating with cross-functional teams to resolve design challenges and enhance methodologies in a fast-paced environment...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$120K - $145K *

Lead the charge in advancing high-speed signal integrity solutions. Manage a dynamic team to design cutting-edge copper-based I/O cable assemblies, ensuring quality and efficiency in high-bandwidth ap...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that drives innovation in automotive embedded hardware design, leading from concept to production. Collaborate across functions to deliver high-quality electronic products, ensuring perfor...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Champion validation excellence by ensuring compliance and data integrity for computerized systems in a regulated environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop strategies and oversee...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Transform validation processes by ensuring compliance and data integrity for computerized systems in a regulated environment. Collaborate with teams to develop strategies and mentor junior members whi...

Wellesley, MARemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$210K - $250K *

Accelerate the design of cutting-edge AI infrastructure by defining SoC assembly and optimizing physical design methodologies for PPA trade-offs in a collaborative engineering environment...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$145K - $175K *

Shape the future of camera technology by developing innovative software that integrates hardware and algorithms, collaborating across disciplines to solve complex challenges and deliver impactful solu...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Champion backend infrastructure evolution by designing, implementing, and scaling distributed systems and APIs, ensuring performance and reliability for our core platform. Collaborate closely with a t...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$200K - $275K *

Drive quality strategy and execution for Optical Connectivity Solutions, enhancing preventive quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across a global design and manufacturing networ...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

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.