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.
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by designing and validating advanced optical systems. Lead development efforts for complex communication and sensing solutions while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to op...
3 weeks ago
Electrical/Design Engineer - Outdoor Optics
$80K - $95K *
Pioneer innovative designs in outdoor optics, leading projects in analog, digital, and RF engineering. Collaborate with teams to enhance product performance and manufacturability while driving technic...
2 weeks ago
Principal Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer
$107K - $204K *
Bring your expertise to the mechanical design process, overseeing all phases from concept to completion. Collaborate with engineers to create innovative solutions in a fast-paced environment, ensuring...
Today
Sr. Principal Optical Subsystem I&T Engineer
$135K - $202K *
Lead cross-functional teams in the integration and testing of advanced electro-optical subsystems while ensuring optimal performance and reliability of launch vehicle technologies. Collaborate effecti...
3 weeks ago
Optical Communications Team Lead
$130K - $160K *
Shape the future of optical communications by leading a dynamic team to transition advanced prototypes into live airborne demonstrations, ensuring seamless integration and performance across cutting-e...
2 weeks ago
Sr Opto-mechanical Design Engineer
$117K - $172K *
Optimize the complete design process from concept to manufacturing, encompassing detailed modeling, analysis, and prototyping. Collaborate across teams to ensure project success while managing cost an...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Optical Metrology Engineer
$175K - $267K *
Drive advanced optical metrology projects, utilizing expertise in complex evaluations and innovative methods to enhance precision instruments and support critical R&D initiatives in a collaborative en...
2 weeks ago
Senior Optical Metrology Engineer
$175K - $267K *
Unlock advanced optical metrology solutions by leading evaluations, developing innovative methods, and mentoring teams. Collaborate on complex projects to enhance precision instruments and support cut...
2 weeks ago
$117K - $172K *
Join our engineering team to drive product development in optical testing, performing hands-on tasks like laser alignment and vendor management while ensuring data accuracy and quality. Advance your c...
3 weeks ago
$150K - $190K *
Drive quality excellence by establishing robust practices that ensure product reliability and performance. Collaborate with engineering teams to enhance testing, documentation, and metrics analysis, f...
2 weeks ago
Principal Electro-Optical/Adaptive Optics Engineer, Directed Energy
$190K - $220K *
Join a team that's driving innovation in adaptive optics for directed energy solutions. You'll lead technical requirements, engage with partners, and mentor talent to set new standards in laser techno...
3 weeks ago
Embedded Software Engineer - Biophotonics
$130K - $155K *
Advance your career by designing and developing embedded software solutions. Collaborate with a diverse team to tackle complex challenges in biophotonics, from firmware to cloud applications, driving...
6 days ago
Embedded Software Engineer - Biophotonics
$150K - $180K *
Shape the future of biophotonics by developing innovative software solutions. Collaborate with a diverse team to design, implement, and enhance embedded systems and applications, driving advancements...
6 days ago
Optomechanical Engineer, Laser Systems
$130K - $180K *
Engage in the design and development of cutting-edge optomechanical solutions, driving innovations in semiconductor packaging processes while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to optimize p...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Systems Software Engineer, Hardware Validation
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by owning the release and test architecture for cutting-edge hardware and software, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration and delivery of in...
Today
Electro-Optical/Adaptive Optics Engineer
$120K - $180K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of energy by developing advanced adaptive optics systems. Collaborate with multidisciplinary experts to enhance high-energy laser capabilities and improve beam qu...
3 weeks ago
$80K - $160K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of optical design for consumer electronics. Leverage your expertise in optical simulation and project leadership to drive innovative solutions in a fast-paced env...
1 week ago
Senior Staff Optical Reliability Engineer
$122K - $183K *
Elevate your career by driving product qualification and reliability for cutting-edge optical technologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure product excellence through rigorous testin...
2 weeks ago
Optical Assembly and Alignment Engineer
$140K - $170K *
Transform optical systems by assembling, aligning, and verifying components for cutting-edge quantum technologies. Collaborate with teams to ensure precision and performance in optical subsystems, dri...
2 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Elevate precision with your expertise! Lead the development and optimization of CMM programs in a dynamic environment, ensuring quality and accuracy in complex geometries. Drive continuous improvement...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Drive your career by leading a quality engineering team focused on the reliability and performance of cutting-edge optical transceivers. Leverage your expertise to enhance product compliance with indu...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Champion the development of III-V semiconductor laser layouts, driving design automation and collaboration across teams to enhance manufacturability and yield. Lead layout architecture from concept to...
1 week ago
Senior Computer Vision Engineer
$145K - $175K *
Elevate road safety by developing cutting-edge computer vision models for real-time detection and tracking of vehicles and pedestrians, while optimizing for deployment and performance in varied traffi...
4 weeks ago
Senior / Staff Behavioral Engineer
$135K - $160K *
Transform user safety by studying risks and redesigning product flows. Partner with cross-functional teams to integrate behavioral insights into security and trust initiatives, ultimately reducing har...
3 weeks ago
Senior / Staff Behavioral Engineer
$130K - $160K *
Lead initiatives to redesign product flows and enhance safety by analyzing user behavior and risk patterns. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement risk-reducing changes and measure impac...
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.