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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$228K - $363K *

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...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$132K - $198K *

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...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$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

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

Barrie, ONIn-Person

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

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

$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...

Kanata, ONIn-Person

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$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...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

RemoteRemote

4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

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.