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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$146K - $194K *

Shape the future of hardware validation by leading end-to-end testing efforts, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring designs meet rigorous standards before deployment...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by enhancing semiconductor CMP processes through expert analysis, troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure production goals and drive continuous improvements in q...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Partner with us to shape procurement strategies that enhance supplier performance and drive cost savings. Collaborate across operations and finance to influence business outcomes and support a mission...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$69K - $120K *

Unlock potential by joining a dynamic team to support and enhance Metrology and CFM equipment in a cleanroom environment, driving improvements in tool availability and maintenance processes while ensu...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Partner with us to enhance equipment performance and reliability in advanced technology manufacturing, executing critical projects to drive efficiency and innovation while mentoring teams through data...

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$190K - $300K *

Engineer secure systems to protect customer data and elevate Macroscope's platform. Collaborate with teams to enforce best practices in security architecture, access management, and cloud technologies...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$166K - $249K *

Engineer advanced thermal and thermo-mechanical technologies for semiconductor packaging, driving innovation across AI, networking, and photonics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance pr...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Unlock your potential by leading the development of cutting-edge camera modules for innovative AR and VR systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive technical excellence and ensure seaml...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Lead the charge in technical ownership of camera modules, defining specifications, analyzing data, and coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration and project success while driv...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $225K *

Contribute to cutting-edge quantum software development by designing and building high-performance backend systems. Collaborate across teams to bridge code and research, enabling practical application...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$180K - $260K *

Champion innovative analytics solutions by harnessing vast data streams to drive critical government missions, collaborating with a talented team of engineers to sustain and enhance impactful software...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $155K *

Join a team that's architecting cutting-edge CMOS analog blocks for custom ASICs, ensuring optimal performance and reliability while collaborating across disciplines to drive innovation and excellence...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$138K - $230K *

Transform post-market quality assurance processes as a senior technical authority, ensuring compliance and patient safety across product lines. Lead investigations, enhance data analysis, and drive co...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$138K - $230K *

Champion post-market quality assurance by leading compliant processes, ensuring patient safety, and driving continuous improvement across medical device product lines while collaborating with cross-fu...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$100K - $120K *

Join a team that's redefining engineered packaging solutions for advanced technology. Lead projects from design to implementation, ensuring safety and efficiency in packaging for critical hardware acr...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Transform the future of aerospace by leading opto-mechanical design efforts for optical payloads. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high-reliability performance in dynamic environments...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Drive the design and manufacturing of optical payloads, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure high reliability and performance in aerospace applications, from conceptual design through t...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$117K - $235K *

Lead the charge in advancing silicon photonics for national security, conducting cutting-edge R&D on innovative devices, improving technologies in communications, sensing, and computing. Collaborate w...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$99K - $149K *

Champion innovative software solutions in visual analytics, driving projects from R&D to deployment. Collaborate across teams to enhance Qualcomm's offerings in mobile, XR, IoT, and automotive sectors...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Champion the development of innovative AI agents for insurance tasks, driving projects from concept to delivery. Collaborate closely across teams to create seamless, multi-channel user experiences tha...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$145K - $175K *

Drive the development of cutting-edge technology solutions, collaborating with engineers to design and optimize low-power hardware accelerators and custom silicon for innovative devices, ensuring high...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Contribute to the design and optimization of advanced hardware solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop low-power accelerators and SoCs that drive innovation in next-gen devices...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$145K - $175K *

Transform your career by developing cutting-edge technology solutions in hardware design. Collaborate with engineers and researchers to create innovative low-power accelerators and SoCs that drive the...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$145K - $175K *

Architect advanced technology solutions by collaborating with engineers to design, implement, and optimize low-power hardware accelerators and custom silicon solutions for next-gen devices, driving in...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $125K *

Champion innovative manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Collaborate cross-functionally to deliver measurable improvements and ensure compliance with quality...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 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.