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.
Senior Principal Platform Engineer
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Shape the future of on-prem Kubernetes platforms by owning provisioning tools and ensuring operational excellence. Collaborate with teams to deliver robust solutions while managing infrastructure and...
Today
Senior Principal Platform Engineer
$133K - $227K *
Lead the charge in building and maintaining a robust on-prem Kubernetes platform, ensuring operational excellence and software innovation while collaborating closely with engineering teams to deliver...
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$180K - $250K *
Lead full-stack development of a customer-focused portal, transforming complex security data into intuitive AI-driven interfaces. Collaborate with teams to enhance user experience and optimize perform...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Process Engineer II (Thin Film)
$88K - $105K *
Unlock potential by driving process improvements in IR semiconductor manufacturing. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance yield, optimize capacity, and troubleshoot issues, ensuring the s...
4 days ago
Research Engineer - EO/IR Image Processing
$90K - $155K *
Unlock the potential of advanced imagery science by collaborating with a dynamic team to develop and evaluate cutting-edge algorithms for EO/IR imagery, ensuring effective real-world application and p...
1 week ago
Staff Computer Vision Engineer
$150K - $180K *
Oversee the complete lifecycle of advanced spatial AI and visual navigation features, from camera integration to high-level architecture, driving end-to-end technical challenges while enhancing team s...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Supplier Quality Engineer, Battery/UPS
$144K - $208K *
Optimize manufacturing processes for Battery/UPS components, ensuring quality and reliability from design to end-of-life. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product launches and enhance...
4 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Innovate thermal performance solutions for gas turbines and power plants. Lead technical teams, mentor engineers, and enhance performance modeling while supporting business development and proposal st...
2 weeks ago
Sr Principal Electrical Design Engineer
$116K - $174K *
Optimize cutting-edge electrical design solutions for aerospace projects. Collaborate with a diverse engineering team to enhance military platform technology, ensuring impeccable quality and adherence...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior High Voltage Electronics Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Unlock innovative power solutions by leading a team in designing high-voltage electronics. Drive the development of advanced thermal management and PCB designs, ensuring compliance and performance fro...
1 week ago
Principal Verification Engineer
$185K - $230K *
Unlock your potential as you lead innovative ASIC verification efforts, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance SoC designs through comprehensive test planning, execution, and analysis, e...
3 weeks ago
Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Space Technologies
$91K - $138K *
Lead the development and optimization of manufacturing processes for precision optical and electromechanical systems in space applications, ensuring quality and efficiency while collaborating across e...
1 week ago
Optical Coating Process Engineer II
$84K - $116K *
Empower manufacturing excellence by optimizing optical coating processes. Drive improvements in stability, yield, and cost while supporting production operations through structured problem solving and...
Reposted 1 week ago
$128K - $186K *
Bring your expertise to the forefront of supplier quality management, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement across aerospace suppliers. Work collaboratively to enhance processes, conduct audi...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Innovate systems modeling efforts by ensuring adherence to engineering standards and leading projects that deliver effective solutions. Collaborate with diverse teams to craft comprehensive architectu...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Audio Intelligence Triage and Integration Engineer, Watch Software
$145K - $175K *
Champion the resolution of complex audio intelligence issues by leveraging advanced debugging skills and collaborating across teams to enhance reliability and performance of intelligent features...
Yesterday
Supplier Quality Development Engineer – Electronics
$80K - $95K *
Drive supplier development initiatives to enhance quality and productivity. Collaborate with internal and external teams to assess and improve supplier performance, ensuring compliance with corporate...
1 week ago
$123K - $206K *
Shape the future of medical devices by leading a dynamic team in process development for new product introductions, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards while fostering talent growth in a co...
6 days ago
Senior Battery Process Engineer - Cell Engineering
$120K - $145K *
Transform battery innovation by advancing designs from concept to production, specifying equipment, and developing processes. Collaborate with partners to analyze results and drive efficiency in a dyn...
1 week ago
Senior Hardware Product Packaging Engineer
$153K - $243K *
Take ownership of innovative packaging solutions from concept to production, ensuring optimal design and functionality for Skydio's diverse product ecosystem. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance...
1 week ago
Project Manager/Equipment Engineering installation
$110K - $130K *
Elevate project management excellence by coordinating complex semiconductor equipment installations. Strategically drive on-time, within-budget execution while fostering cross-functional collaboration...
3 weeks ago
$97K - $152K *
Advance product quality and performance by leading investigations and engineering changes for on-market medical devices, ensuring compliance and reliability while mentoring junior engineers and collab...
2 weeks ago
Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Capacitor Production
$140K - $165K *
Drive continuous improvement in manufacturing processes, ensuring quality and efficiency on the capacitor line. Lead initiatives to enhance yield, reduce costs, and maintain process discipline while f...
1 week ago
$150K - $180K *
Reimagine digital signal processing as a Senior DSP/RTL Engineer, driving algorithm development and efficient RTL implementation for phased array solutions. Shape system capabilities from concept to s...
1 week ago
Sr. Principal Software Engineer, Physical Verification
$161K - $299K *
Engineer advanced software solutions for physical verification in semiconductor design, driving innovation and ensuring accuracy. Collaborate with a global team to solve complex challenges and enhance...
Reposted 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.