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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$133K - $227K *

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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

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.