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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
Locations
caret down
More
1
caret down

$95K - $105K *

Drive quality excellence by managing supplier performance and ensuring compliance across manufacturing processes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve issues, lead investigations, and im...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$138K - $170K *

Lead the Manufacturing Engineering team to enhance production efficiency, drive innovation in technology, and ensure high-quality outputs in manufacturing operations. Collaborate across departments to...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Pioneer growth by leading a dynamic team of engineers dedicated to delivering high-quality technical solutions. Shape team culture and optimize processes while collaborating cross-functionally to driv...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$86K - $165K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of quality assurance, ensuring compliance and enhancing product reliability. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive improvements and maintain safety stan...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$86K - $165K *

Create impactful quality assurance strategies to enhance product reliability and compliance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address quality issues, ensuring customer satisfaction and safet...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$86K - $165K *

Lead quality assurance initiatives, ensuring compliance and enhancing product reliability. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address quality risks and implement improvement strategies for the...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$86K - $165K *

Join a dynamic team to enhance quality assurance for radar systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, lead root cause analysis, and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards while dri...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$145K - $220K *

Lead the development of tests ensuring our AI accelerator hardware functions effectively across package, board, and system levels, driving quality through early problem detection and strategic test ex...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$200K - $230K *

Transform the computer vision landscape by owning classical CV processes, ensuring smooth, accurate 3D data delivery. Collaborate with research teams to enhance hand-tracking and tackle diverse CV cha...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$150K - $180K *

Contribute to impactful projects by leveraging your expertise and skills in a collaborative environment, working with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and achieve strategic goals...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $179K *

Innovate security engineering strategies to enhance security posture across software development, cloud services, and payment environments. Collaborate with teams to drive measurable security outcomes...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$227K - $346K *

Drive innovation and leadership as you guide a multi-disciplinary engineering team, fostering career growth and collaboration while ensuring successful project execution in a dynamic environment...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$227K - $346K *

Lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team, driving innovation and operational excellence in laser systems. Foster career development, manage resources, and ensure project success while collaborating...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $180K *

Transform the future of optical communication systems by leading complex analog layout design. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass silicon success while mentoring junior engin...

Ottawa, ONRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Drive the layout design of complex analog and mixed-signal IP blocks, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass silicon success while mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced en...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Lead global packaging engineering initiatives, optimizing systems for quality, safety, and compliance across manufacturing sites. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance packaging solutions...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$140K - $198K *

Elevate operational excellence by leading strategic capacity planning across multiple technologies and sites. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop actionable strategies that align with b...

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$166K - $309K *

Lead a dynamic team in Electro-Optical Systems Engineering, driving strategic direction and governance throughout the program lifecycle. Collaborate across disciplines to ensure successful design, ver...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$124K - $231K *

Unlock potential by ensuring the functional correctness of digital modem designs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop robust verification strategies and environments, driving innovation...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$172K - $203K *

Champion quality assurance processes across CMF Design, R&D, and Supply Chain. Collaborate with designers and manufacturers to ensure consistent, high-standards execution of coatings and finishes from...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$120K - $165K *

Drive innovation in the semiconductor sector by optimizing complex systems. Leverage advanced problem-solving skills to collaborate across teams, ensuring high-quality standards and customer satisfact...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $165K *

Advance your career as you design, integrate, and optimize complex systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to elevate innovation and ensure quality in the semiconductor industry...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $165K *

Elevate your career as a Systems Engineer, driving innovation and integration in complex semiconductor systems. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance reliability, performance, and customer satisfa...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $165K *

Join our team to design and optimize advanced systems for the semiconductor industry. Leverage your problem-solving skills and collaborate across teams to drive system improvements and exceed customer...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$90K - $140K *

Innovate and manage electrical engineering for a major hydroelectric safety upgrade, overseeing subcontractors, ensuring compliance, and leading project execution across multiple facilities for optima...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

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.