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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$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

$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

$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

$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

$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

$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

$109K - $152K *

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance manufacturing processes, drive continuous improvement, and implement innovative engineering solutions that support product commercialization and oper...

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Advance enterprise threat detection capabilities by developing high-fidelity detections across security platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance defensive posture and mentor junio...

Tennessee, USRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$159K - $230K *

Join a team that's redefining PCB design by collaborating with engineers to develop innovative hardware solutions. Leverage your expertise in CAD tools and PCB methodologies to drive projects from con...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Develop and optimize production processes for aerospace turbine components, leading technical projects and driving improvements in quality and efficiency. Collaborate across teams to support operation...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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...

3 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

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.