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Director Optical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Applied Energetics, Inc

Senior Optical Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$115K - $165K/yr

Guided by our vision, " Directed Energy, Anywhere ", we build compact, high-performance systems ... Why This Role Matters We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Optical Engineer to play a key role in ...

Applied Energetics, Inc

Senior Optical Engineer

Tucson, AZ

$110K - $143K/yr

Guided by our vision, " Directed Energy, Anywhere ", we build compact, high-performance systems ... Why This Role Matters We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Optical Engineer to play a key role in ...

Aeva, Inc.

Optical Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$152K - $197K/yr

Direct specification development for detailed drawings of optical components * Generate and document new IP What you have: * Bachelors or Masters in optical engineering, physics, or related field ...

Aeva, Inc.

Optical Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$132K - $179K/yr

Direct specification development for detailed drawings of optical components * Generate and document new IP What you have: * Bachelors or Masters in optical engineering, physics, or related field ...

Aeva, Inc.

Optical Engineer

Mountain View, CA

$132K - $179K/yr

Direct specification development for detailed drawings of optical components * Generate and document new IP What you have: * Bachelors or Masters in optical engineering, physics, or related field ...

Attalon, Inc.

Optical Engineer

Warren, NJ · On-site

$65K - $126K/yr

From high-energy directed laser systems to satellite optics and hypersonic thermal protection ... This engineer will play a wide range of support roles, helping assemble and align lasers, splice ...

Trialon Corporation

Optical Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI · On-site

$122K - $158K/yr

... direct placements. Trialon provides people throughout North America in many technical fields ... Bachelor's degree in Engineering (in optics/physics) or Engineering/Mathematics background or ...

Trialon Corporation

Optical Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI · On-site

$122K - $158K/yr

... direct placements. Trialon provides people throughout North America in many technical fields ... Bachelor's degree in Engineering (in optics/physics) or Engineering/Mathematics background or ...

Apple

Display Module Optical Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$151K - $196K/yr

Apple is seeking a highly motivated Display Module Optical Engineer with a strong passion for next ... Direct mass-production experience is highly beneficial.

Wilcox Industries

Senior Optical Engineer

Portsmouth, NH · On-site

$106K - $146K/yr

The Senior Optical Engineer (OE) serves as the company's technical authority for optical systems ... Responsible for annual reviews of direct reports, as well as goal setting with direct reports for ...

Wilcox Industries

Senior Optical Engineer

Newington, NH · On-site

$106K - $146K/yr

The Senior Optical Engineer (OE) serves as the company's technical authority for optical systems ... Responsible for annual reviews of direct reports, as well as goal setting with direct reports for ...

Apple

Display Module Optical Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$181K - $318K/yr

Direct mass-production experience is highly beneficial. Minimum Qualifications Bachelors Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field ...

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All JobsOptical Engineer JobsDirector Optical Engineer Jobs

Director Optical Engineer information

See salary details

$83K

$143.6K

$168.5K

How much do director optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for director optical engineer in the United States is $143,611.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,000.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Optical Engineer vs Optical Engineer?

AspectDirector Optical EngineerOptical Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's/PhD in optics, physics, or engineering; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in optics, physics, or engineering
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles in R&D, product development, managing teamsDesign, testing, and development of optical systems
Industry UsageStrategic oversight, project management, cross-department coordinationHands-on technical work, prototype development, testing

The main difference is that a Director Optical Engineer focuses on strategic leadership, team management, and project oversight, while an Optical Engineer is primarily involved in technical design and development tasks. The director role requires more experience and leadership skills, whereas the optical engineer role emphasizes technical expertise and hands-on work.

More about Director Optical Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Optical Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Director Optical Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Optical Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Director Optical Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Optical Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Director Optical Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Director Optical Engineer jobs are:
Director Optical Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Optical Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,611 per year, or $69 per hour.
Optical Test Engineering, Senior Director

Optical Test Engineering, Senior Director

Astera Labs

San Jose, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Senior Director, Optical Test EngineeringPosition Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Director of Optical Test Engineering to lead the development, validation, and manufacturing support of advanced integrated optical interconnect solutions. This role focuses on optical-electrical integration at the module level, bridging transceiver and compute platform interfaces with comprehensive test strategy and execution.

Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership
  • Define and execute the optical test engineering roadmap for next-generation interconnect architectures
  • Establish testing methodologies and standards for tightly integrated optical-electrical assemblies
  • Lead cross-functional teams across optical design, electrical engineering, manufacturing, and quality
  • Develop partnerships with ecosystem partners on test protocols and validation requirements
Technical Program Management
  • Oversee test strategy development for optical modules with embedded or adjacently mounted optical components
  • Drive creation of comprehensive test plans covering optical performance, electrical performance, thermal management, and reliability
  • Establish acceptance criteria and performance benchmarks aligned with data center and enterprise requirements
  • Manage test equipment specifications, procurement, and deployment across manufacturing sites
Validation & Reliability
  • Champion accelerated life testing programs for integrated optical-electrical systems
  • Develop diagnostic and characterization protocols for novel optical assembly approaches
  • Lead root-cause analysis on field failures and manufacturing defects
  • Ensure compliance with industry standards (IEEE, IEC, Telcordia) and customer specifications
Engineering Team Development
  • Build and mentor a team of optical test engineers, technicians, and process specialists
  • Foster innovation in test methodology and automation
  • Develop talent pipeline and career advancement opportunities
  • Promote continuous learning in optical testing technologies and practices
Manufacturing Support
  • Collaborate with manufacturing operations on yield improvement and test efficiency
  • Establish in-line test protocols and inline measurement strategies
  • Support transition from development to production testing
  • Drive test cost reduction through automation and optimization
Required Qualifications
  • Experience: 15+ years in optical engineering, with 5+ years in test engineering leadership
  • Technical Expertise:
    • Deep knowledge of optical transceiver design and testing
    • Experience with optical-electrical integration challenges
    • Proficiency in optical characterization (loss, dispersion, eye diagrams, jitter)
    • Fluency with high-speed electrical measurements and signal integrity
  • Leadership: Demonstrated success managing technical teams and cross-functional programs
  • Industry Knowledge: Understanding of data center interconnect architectures and requirements
  • Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with 112G+ or 200G+ optical systems
  • Familiarity with thermal management in high-density optical modules
  • Knowledge of automated test equipment (ATE) programming and optimization
  • Background in manufacturing process capability analysis
  • Understanding of substrate technologies (silicon photonics, planar lightwave circuits)
  • Advanced degree in Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
  • Strategic vision and execution
  • Technical depth and credibility
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Process improvement and lean manufacturing principles
  • Data-driven decision making
  • Communication with technical and executive audiences
  • Change management
  • Budget and resource management

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