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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$136K - $178K *

Drive innovation in MEMS probe technologies, leading product development and cross-functional collaboration to enhance performance and reliability in semiconductor applications...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$135K - $150K *

Develop and expand advanced orbit design processes for satellite constellations, applying expertise in orbital mechanics. Collaborate with teams to enhance modeling tools and support mission planning...

Seattle, WARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $150K *

Champion innovative satellite constellation design by utilizing advanced modeling tools and expertise in orbital mechanics to lead projects, engage with customers, and support mission planning across...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$163K - $228K *

Engineer high-throughput automated workflows, translating scientific goals into scalable solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define system architectures, enhance laboratory automatio...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$98K - $135K *

Drive manufacturing excellence by designing processes, improving efficiencies, and collaborating across teams to deliver high-quality products while navigating regulatory requirements and ensuring bes...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $150K *

Shape the future of optical transceiver solutions by collaborating with cross-functional teams and customers. Engage in technical problem-solving and support advanced applications in diverse industrie...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$145K - $175K *

Lead the charge in expanding future GPU capabilities, enhancing customer experiences through innovative graphics solutions and collaboration with cross-functional teams...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Contribute to the advancement of future GPU capabilities by designing and optimizing real-time graphics hardware systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance customer experiences and...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $150K *

Empower your career by leading a global Application Engineering team, enhancing quoting tools, and driving strategic partnerships. This role blends technical expertise with people leadership to ensure...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$129K - $171K *

Join a team that's pioneering advanced electronics for airborne EO/IR systems, focusing on design, testing, and integration. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance performance and tackle c...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$190K - $215K *

Shape the future of modular data centers by evaluating technical fit for opportunities, building frameworks, and guiding teams in rapid feasibility assessments to convert potential into deployable cap...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$154K - $231K *

Unlock potential by leading the development of embedded firmware for advanced DSP products. Collaborate across teams to drive project success, mentor engineers, and engage with customers to deliver in...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $143K *

Unlock quality excellence by leading testing strategies for large-scale data pipelines while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive impact and innovation in our dynamic advertising technol...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$115K - $165K *

Shape the future of data quality by leading QA efforts within a dynamic engineering team. Engage closely with data engineers to tackle complex challenges in high-volume data systems and foster innovat...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$125K - $160K *

Elevate your career by owning electrical application engineering for prefabricated platforms. Collaborate across disciplines to deliver scalable solutions, ensuring design integrity and execution read...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Accelerate the evolution of enterprise telecommunications systems, leading design and optimization of voice, video, and network solutions while ensuring compliance and scalability in a dynamic environ...

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$150K - $230K *

Transform designs into reality by creating robust PCB layouts and collaborating across teams to ensure manufacturability and compliance in high-tech applications...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Pioneer the future of RF and communications systems for space applications. Lead subsystem architecture, design, and integration efforts while mentoring engineers to enhance mission readiness and reli...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Engineer complex physical designs for next-gen AI data center chips, driving multi-million-gate blocks to meet performance, power, and area targets. Collaborate with RTL teams, enhance methodologies...

Vancouver, BCRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$125K - $150K *

Lead the charge in complex physical design for next-gen AI data center chips, driving multi-million-gate graphics IP blocks to meet performance, power, and area targets while collaborating with cross...

Vancouver, BCIn-Person

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$88K - $110K *

Unlock potential by leading the integration of advanced robotic solutions, ensuring customer success through tailored implementations, technical support, and continuous improvement in a dynamic, colla...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$140K - $170K *

Transform member engagement by leading a multidisciplinary team to build a robust communication platform, leveraging data and predictive models to enhance health outcomes through personalized, timely...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$80K - $95K *

Drive success by leading a team of retail managers to enhance customer experience, boost sales, and ensure operational excellence across multiple store locations while maintaining brand integrity and...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$82K - $220K *

Unlock your potential as a Systems Concepts Engineer, driving mission engineering and system design. Collaborate with teams to analyze complex systems, define architectures, and present findings to le...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$173K - $183K *

Join a team that's shaping automation in biotech by developing cutting-edge systems and protocols. Collaborate with scientists and engineers to optimize workflows, enhance data integration, and drive...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

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.