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Director Optical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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

$184K - $324K/yr

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

Fibertek

Optical Communication Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$132K - $171K/yr

Job duties: As an optical communications engineer, you will be responsible for designing and ... You will use your direct hands-on experience to support the build, alignment, and performance ...

nLIGHT

Senior Optical Engineer

Camas, WA

$103K - $135K/yr

Summary The Directed Energy Laser Development group has an opening for a Senior Optical Engineer to support the development of high-power fiber amplifiers. This position will develop next-generation ...

nLIGHT

Senior Optical Engineer

Camas, WA

$103K - $135K/yr

Summary The Directed Energy Laser Development group has an opening for a Senior Optical Engineer to support the development of high-power fiber amplifiers. This position will develop next-generation ...

nLIGHT

Senior Optical Engineer

Camas, WA · On-site

$103K - $135K/yr

Summary The Directed Energy Laser Development group has an opening for a Senior Optical Engineer to support the development of high-power fiber amplifiers. This position will develop next-generation ...

nLIGHT

Senior Optical Engineer

Camas, WA

Summary The Directed Energy Laser Development group has an opening for a Senior Optical Engineer to support the development of high-power fiber amplifiers. This position will develop next-generation ...

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Director Optical Engineer information

See salary details

$83K

$143.6K

$168.5K

How much do director optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 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 July 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 82% In-person, and 18% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $143,611 per year, or $69 per hour.
Display Module Optical Engineer

Display Module Optical Engineer

Apple

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$151K - $196K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 667 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Apple is seeking a highly motivated Display Module Optical Engineer with a strong passion for next-generation display technologies. Explore optics and develop module-level integration processes for advanced optical components used in future display systems. You will tackle new technical challenges, help create solutions that do not yet exist, and influence the future of interactive and display technologies at Apple.
You will apply your expertise in optics, optical metrology, diffractive optical components, and module integration while collaborating closely with world-class cross-functional teams and top global suppliers to deliver innovative, manufacturable, mass-production solutions.
Description
This individual will serve as a key focal point for new display technology development, driving the implementation of emerging technology platforms into final products. In this role, you will contribute to system-level modeling to support design decisions and validation, working closely with a diverse, multi-disciplinary team. As a directly responsible individual, you will partner with cross-functional teams and suppliers to understand design tolerances and sensitivities, optimize system performance based on critical metrics, and validate system behavior through engineering builds and design of experiments.
The ideal candidate is comfortable working with new technologies, demonstrates flexible and strategic problem-solving, and maintains meticulous attention to detail. You should be highly independent, motivated to deliver results, and capable of tackling challenges beyond your immediate technical domain. Strong communication and presentation skills are essential, along with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, agile, hands-on, and innovation-driven environment that values engineering excellence.
You will be part of something impactful-come join us!
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelors Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field with 10+ years of relevant experience
Experience in one or more of the following: optical design and characterization, optical modeling, physical and geometrical optics, semiconductor optoelectronics, display technologies, sensor technologies, and statistical analysis.
Experience leading engineering builds, planning test activities, and managing readiness of module deliverables across development phases
Experience with optical measurement systems for characterization, testing, and validation.
Experience with tools for data acquisition and analysis (Python, LabVIEW), statistical analysis (JMP, MATLAB), and optical simulation (LightTools, FDTD, Zemax, Code V) is strongly desired.
Preferred Qualifications
Masters or PhD in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience.
Demonstrated ability to take initiative, define tasks, and execute work independently while contributing across multiple programs. Able to balance priorities and support peers with optical expertise.
Experience with display optics is a strong plus.
Strong creativity and analytical thinking in problem-solving and root-cause analysis. Experience linking optical performance issues to process-driven root causes.
Experience in module engineering, module integration, or high-volume manufacturing processes. Direct mass-production experience is highly beneficial.

What Apple employees say

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Benefits

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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