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Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Boeing

Entry Level Systems Engineer

Albuquerque, NM · On-site

The Boeing Laser and Electro-Optical Systems (LEOS), is looking for highly skilled and adaptable Entry Level Systems Engineers to provide Systems Engineering support on a multi-disciplinary team ...

Boeing

Entry Level Systems Engineer

Albuquerque, NM

The Boeing Laser and Electro-Optical Systems (LEOS), is looking for highly skilled and adaptable Entry Level Systems Engineers to provide Systems Engineering support on a multi-disciplinary team ...

Acuity Brands

Illumination Engineer Lead

Wheat Ridge, CO · On-site

$108K - $143K/yr

Job Summary The Illumination Engineer is a core contributor to the Nexus team, Acuity Brands ... Open to considering candidates at the following skill levels: * Entry Level: Contributes to optical ...

Acuity, Inc.

Illumination Engineer Lead

Wheat Ridge, CO · On-site

$108K - $143K/yr

Job Summary The Illumination Engineer is a core contributor to the Nexus team, Acuity Brands ... Open to considering candidates at the following skill levels: * Entry Level: Contributes to optical ...

Acuity Brands

Illumination Engineer Lead

Wheat Ridge, CO · On-site

$108K - $143K/yr

Job Summary The Illumination Engineer is a core contributor to the Nexus team, Acuity Brands ... Open to considering candidates at the following skill levels: * Entry Level: Contributes to optical ...

Coherent

Principal NPI Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Knowledge of optical packaging, adhesive bonding, UV curing, and environmental sealing ... lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated ...

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Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer information

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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do entry level principal optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level principal optical engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer vs Optical Engineer?

AspectEntry Level Principal Optical EngineerOptical Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field; some certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, product development, design teams in tech and optics companiesDesign, testing, and development in similar settings, often with less leadership responsibility
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in high-tech, aerospace, defense, and optics manufacturing companiesCommon in tech, manufacturing, and research organizations

The Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer typically has more advanced responsibilities, including project leadership and strategic planning, compared to a standard Optical Engineer. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds, the principal role often involves more experience and a focus on innovation and mentorship. The main difference lies in the level of responsibility and scope of work within the organization.

What cities are hiring for Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Optical Engineer jobs?

The most popular types of Principal Optical Engineer jobs are:

What states have the most Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer jobs include:

Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Principal Optical Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Sr. Staff Engineer, Optical Link Design

Ayar Labs

San Jose, CA • On-site

$175K - $223K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Sr. Staff Engineer, Optical Link Design
Location: San Jose, CA (on-site)
Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models.
Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD, Mediatek and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world's leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs' co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures.
Joining our Link Design and Architecture team means you will play a pivotal role in shaping our silicon photonics optical I/O platform. This team is responsible for ensuring the robustness and performance of the optical links that power our technology. In this role, you will bridge the gap between large-scale data analysis and advanced optical link models to optimize the performance of Ayar Labs' co-packaged optics (CPO) solution.
Essential Functions
  • Drive rigorous link modeling studies to help evaluate future product solution spaces and define precise component-level specifications.
  • Identify key device performance metrics and translate hardware variability into its impact on total link budget and manufacturing yield.
  • Build accurate system-level models based on component-level data and benchmark these models against measured system-level data.
  • Work collaboratively with Photonic and AMS teams to ensure seamless integration across electrical and optical domains.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Optics/Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field.
  • Demonstrated experience in photonics, electrical engineering, high-speed link design, or processing and analyzing large statistical datasets.
  • Comprehensive understanding of high-speed electrical and/or optical links, as well as optical physics regarding photonic components.
  • Strong programming proficiency in Python for scientific computing and data analysis.
  • Familiarity with data analysis libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, SciPy) is required.
  • Excellent communication skills to convey complex technical concepts and a proven ability to thrive in collaborative team environments.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's or Ph.D. in Optics/Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field.
  • Prior experience in the design and simulation of PIC components or large-scale integrated optical systems.
  • Experience with laboratory equipment and free-space/fiber optics for optical characterization.
  • Proficiency in behavioral modeling using Verilog-A and knowledge of mixed-signal simulation methodologies

Salary Range: $175,000 - $223,000
NOTE TO RECRUITERS:
Principals only. We are not accepting resumes from recruiters for this position. Remuneration for recruiting activities is only applicable subject to a signed and executed agreement between the parties. Please don't send candidates to Ayar Labs, and do not contact our managers.
Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.

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