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.
$160K - $190K *
Lead the development of mission-critical hardware, transforming concepts into rigorous requirements while overseeing design, testing, and integration of complex electromechanical systems for aerospace...
2 weeks ago
Senior Electronics Design Engineer
$135K - $160K *
Optimize the electrical architecture for energy storage systems. Lead a team through the design, validation, and production of inverters and batteries. Drive innovation and improve reliability in high...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Electronics Design Engineer
$125K - $150K *
Innovate and lead the electrical architecture of cutting-edge energy systems, driving design from concept to production. Shape the future of reliable, cost-effective energy solutions through hands-on...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Accelerate quality excellence by leading QA/QC initiatives across diverse projects. Oversee compliance, mentor teams, and enhance the Quality Management System to ensure superior project execution and...
1 week ago
Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Igniters and Pyrotechnics
$95K - $115K *
Engineer and optimize manufacturing processes for igniters and pyrotechnic devices, ensuring high-quality production and safety. Collaborate across teams to transition from prototypes to scalable prod...
Yesterday
Senior / Staff Product Engineer, Mobile
$130K - $160K *
Advance our mobile stack by developing features for our popular SDKs, enhancing location services across platforms, and engaging with customers to deliver impactful solutions used globally on millions...
3 weeks ago
$101K - $158K *
Optimize serviceability and performance through engineering changes, collaboration, and data analysis. Lead sustainment activities, enhance product reliability, and support new developments in a dynam...
1 week ago
$220K - $292K *
Drive innovation in electronic warfare by designing advanced RF architectures and systems. Collaborate with a dynamic team to deliver cutting-edge solutions rapidly, ensuring operational excellence an...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineer, Mechanical (Valencia (CA), United States)
$100K - $125K *
Support mechanical product development from concept to manufacturing, ensuring designs meet regulatory standards and quality requirements. Collaborate across teams to develop specifications, conduct t...
3 weeks ago
Staff Electrical and Electronic Design Engineer - Future Forward
$130K - $155K *
Pioneer innovative electronic designs for next-gen robotic systems, leading the development from concept to production. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality, compliant produc...
Yesterday
Senior Operations Quality Engineer
$150K - $190K *
Pioneer innovative quality solutions in a fast-paced environment, leading efforts in product introductions and continuous improvements while collaborating across teams to enhance operational efficienc...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's redefining materials management in a fast-paced environment. Lead inventory control, oversee warehouse operations, and ensure timely delivery of materials for innovative production...
1 week ago
$135K - $150K *
Drive the development of innovative electronic systems for medical devices, focusing on circuit design, integration, and compliance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality prod...
Yesterday
Regional Quality Engineer (NVD)
$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...
Yesterday
Sr. Manager, Manufactuing Engineering
$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
Product Engineering - Engineering Manager / Sr. Engineering Manager
$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
Senior Quality Electronics Engineer
$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
Senior Quality Electronics Engineer
$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
Senior Quality Electronics Engineer
$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
Senior Quality Electronics Engineer
$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
$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
Computer Vision Engineer, 3D - HYBRID
$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...
1 week ago
Senior Staff Electrical Engineer, R&D
$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
$138K - $172K *
Transform automation solutions by leading the Electrical and Controls team to innovate and integrate systems for high-volume manufacturing, ensuring safety, efficiency, and talent development in a dyn...
Reposted 1 week ago
$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
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.