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.
Senior / Staff AI Platform Engineer
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Shape the future of AI platforms by building APIs and SDKs that empower teams to innovate faster. Collaborate with engineers to enhance shared tooling and ensure seamless integration, driving adoption...
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Staff Electrical Engineer, Advanced Targeting System
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Elevate the future of defense technology by leading the design and production of a soldier-portable, auto-aiming counter-UAS system. Drive innovation in electrical engineering to enhance warfighter ca...
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Quality Engineer, Hardware (III-Senior)
$100K - $170K *
Elevate quality standards in aerospace by leading inspections, managing compliance, and driving process improvements. Collaborate with teams to ensure product excellence and safety while fostering str...
1 week ago
$96K - $137K *
Lead the architecture and optimization of optical network infrastructure, ensuring high availability and capacity. Collaborate with teams to design scalable solutions and implement advanced technologi...
6 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Lead the charge in quality systems for optical fiber manufacturing. Drive assurance and continuous improvement while fostering a culture of quality and compliance with industry standards. Collaborate...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $130K *
Contribute to innovative process engineering projects, leading from design to construction. Collaborate with multi-discipline teams to deliver quality solutions for clients in the chemical industry, e...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $130K *
Contribute to innovative process engineering solutions by leading projects from inception to construction. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop PFDs, P&IDs, and equipment specifications...
3 weeks ago
Quality Engineer (Electronics)
$100K - $162K *
Lead the charge in ensuring electronics build quality across production, addressing issues, driving root cause investigations, and implementing data-driven solutions to enhance manufacturing processes...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead and inspire a mechanical engineering team, driving product development and project management while ensuring design excellence and compliance throughout the production lifecycle...
1 week ago
Senior Project Manager - Cheyenne
$95K - $115K *
Empower project success by overseeing all phases of complex assignments, ensuring strategic alignment, resource allocation, and compliance with safety and quality standards while fostering a culture o...
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Senior Electrical Design Engineer
$140K - $170K *
Join a team that's innovating in electrical design for consumer and robotic devices. Lead projects from concept to production while collaborating across disciplines and enhancing engineering best prac...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$75K - $90K *
Unlock potential by providing robotic programming solutions and support in a fast-paced automation environment. Collaborate with various disciplines and take ownership of tasks to advance skills while...
1 month ago
$116K - $164K *
Join a team that's redefining power solutions by translating complex requirements into systematic design specifications. Collaborate across teams to ensure compliance and manage the entire product lif...
3 weeks ago
Senior Applications Software Engineer, Perception and Sensor Fusion
$152K - $287K *
Engage in innovative application software architecture for autonomous vehicles. Collaborate with global teams and partners to optimize perception and sensor fusion solutions, tackling complex challeng...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Empower your career by designing and supporting enterprise applications and APIs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions while enhancing system performance and reliabi...
Yesterday
$75K - $95K *
Advance supply chain efficiency by leading material planning and procurement efforts. Ensure timely availability of materials, manage supplier relationships, and mitigate risks to support manufacturin...
3 weeks ago
Senior Electrical Engineer - Operations
$95K - $115K *
Empower product excellence by leading electrical design defect resolution. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance product robustness, yield, and quality while driving corrective actions and continu...
5 days ago
R&D Semiconductor Integration Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Advance your career by managing integration processes for new products, collaborating across teams to optimize manufacturing yields, and driving continuous improvement in semiconductor device technolo...
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Empower systems engineering excellence by designing, integrating, and sustaining mission systems. Collaborate with teams to enhance operational capabilities while providing lifecycle support and condu...
3 weeks ago
Senior Principle, Transportation Optimization
$170K - $220K *
Champion transportation optimization by leading strategic initiatives that enhance service, cost efficiency, and network performance across global operations. Drive innovation in operating models and...
4 days ago
Sr. Engineer, Machine Learning
$91K - $125K *
Develop and deploy machine learning solutions to tackle manufacturing challenges. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze data, create models, and transition solutions into production, enha...
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$106K - $145K *
Lead the charge in optimizing CMP processes to ensure wafer flatness and uniformity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance performance, manage defects, and evaluate materials, driving inn...
1 week ago
Electrical Engineer - Sustaining and Product Development
$85K - $100K *
Architect innovative solutions for Fixed Gas and Flame Detection products. Lead cross-functional teams in design and testing to enhance safety technology, ensuring top performance and compliance in ch...
3 weeks ago
Electrical Engineer - Sustaining and Product Development
$85K - $100K *
Join a team that's enhancing safety through innovative electronic design and development. Collaborate across functions to deliver cutting-edge gas and flame detection solutions, ensuring compliance an...
3 weeks ago
Senior System Level Verification Engineer
$138K - $165K *
Lead the charge in chip-level verification for complex ARM-based SoCs, developing test environments, debugging, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure robust system performance and re...
1 week 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.