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Junior Optical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Samson Rose

Drive technical design reviews and mentor junior optical engineers, shaping both the technical outcome and the next generation of optical talent on the team * Support the transition of optical ...

Koch Industries

Principal Optical Engineer

Bridgewater, NJ · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

As a senior technical leader, the Principal Optical Engineer will mentor and guide junior, intermediate, and senior engineers, fostering technical growth, ensuring high engineering standards, and ...

Monarch Quantum

Optical Engineer Level 2

San Diego, CA · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Will mentor junior engineers. * Execute complex engineering tasks involving planning, preparation ... A bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. * Minimum of 2 years of ...

Monarch Quantum

Optical Engineer Level 2

San Diego, CA · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Will mentor junior engineers. * Execute complex engineering tasks involving planning, preparation ... A bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. * Minimum of 2 years of ...

Monarch Quantum

Optical Engineer Level 2

San Diego, CA

$100K - $150K/yr

Will mentor junior engineers. * Execute complex engineering tasks involving planning, preparation ... A bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. * Minimum of 2 years of ...

Onto Innovation

Staff Optical Engineer

Wilmington, MA · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to optical technology Qualifications Required * MSc or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field * 7+ years of ...

Onto

Staff Optical Engineer

Wilmington, MA · On-site

$115K - $172K/yr

Provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to optical technology Qualifications Required * MSc or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field * 7+ years of ...

Onto

Staff Optical Engineer

Wilmington, MA · On-site

$115K - $172K/yr

Provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to optical technology Qualifications Required * MSc or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field * 7+ years of ...

Onto Innovation

$125 - $150/hr

Provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to optical technology Qualifications Required * MSc or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field * 7+ years of ...

Nokia

Staff Optical Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$139K - $228K/yr

Lead complex technical investigations, drive innovative solutions, and mentor junior engineers. * Verify and enhance optical performance, including testing aspects such as OSNR, signal quality, and ...

Atom Computing

Principal Optical Engineer

Boulder, CO · On-site

$160K - $185K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Optical Engineer. As a technical lead, you will define and implement ... Mentor junior team members and generate internal training documents and procedures * Contribute as ...

Atom Computing

Principal Optical Engineer

Boulder, CO · On-site

$160K - $185K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Optical Engineer. As a technical lead, you will define and implement ... Mentor junior team members and generate internal training documents and procedures * Contribute as ...

Nokia

Staff Optical Engineer

San Jose, CA

$151K - $195K/yr

Lead complex technical investigations, drive innovative solutions, and mentor junior engineers. * Verify and enhance optical performance, including testing aspects such as OSNR, signal quality, and ...

Atom Computing

Principal Optical Engineer

Boulder, CO

$160K - $185K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Optical Engineer. As a technical lead, you will define and implement ... Mentor junior team members and generate internal training documents and procedures * Contribute as ...

Monarch Quantum

Optical Engineer Level 3

San Diego, CA

$125K - $175K/yr

Will mentor junior engineers * Execute complex engineering tasks involving planning, preparation ... A bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field * Minimum of 5 years of ...

Monarch Quantum

Optical Engineer Level 3

San Diego, CA · On-site

$125K - $175K/yr

Will mentor junior engineers * Execute complex engineering tasks involving planning, preparation ... A bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field * Minimum of 5 years of ...

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Junior Optical Engineer information

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How much do junior optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior optical engineer in the United States is $71,799.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $80,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a junior optical engineer?

A Junior Optical Engineer is an entry-level engineering professional specializing in optical systems, components, and technologies. They assist in designing, testing, and optimizing optical devices such as lenses, lasers, and imaging systems. Their responsibilities may include conducting experiments, analyzing data, and supporting senior engineers in research and development. Strong analytical skills, knowledge of optics principles, and proficiency with simulation tools are often required. This role provides foundational experience for growing into more advanced optical engineering positions.

What does a junior optical engineer do?

As a Junior Optical Engineer, you may assist in designing, testing, and evaluating optical systems such as lenses, imaging devices, or sensors under the supervision of senior engineers. Your responsibilities often include running simulations, performing hands-on experiments in the lab, analyzing data, and contributing to technical reports. You’ll also collaborate closely with colleagues in mechanical and electrical engineering to integrate optical components into larger systems. This role often provides opportunities to learn from mentors and gain hands-on experience with real-world applications, which is valuable for long-term career growth in the optical engineering field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a junior optical engineer?

To thrive as a Junior Optical Engineer, you need a solid background in optics, physics, and mathematics, often supported by a bachelor's degree in optical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with optical design software (such as Zemax or CODE V), basic laboratory equipment, and CAD tools is commonly expected. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you work efficiently within engineering teams and present findings clearly. These skills ensure precise design, troubleshooting, and collaborative project development in this technically demanding role.

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Junior Optical Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Optical Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 92% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,799 per year, or $34.5 per hour.

Senior Optical Design Engineer

On-site

Samson Rose
See more jobs at Samson Roseexternal

Other

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

We're looking for a Senior Optical Design Engineer to take true end-to-end ownership of critical optical subsystems—from first sketch and simulation, through prototyping and test, all the way to production hardware flying on mission-critical platforms. This isn't a role where you hand off your design and wait to hear how it went. You'll be in the lab aligning it, in the design review defending it, and in the field watching it perform.

If you want your optics work to matter—not just on paper, but in systems that ship—this is that role.

What This Role Owns
  • Lead the design, modeling, and tolerance analysis of complex multi-element optical systems, from concept through final release
  • Develop and validate optical architectures for laser-based and imaging systems
  • Own optical performance budgets and run trade studies across SWaP, cost, reliability, and manufacturability, balancing physics with what's actually buildable
  • Build, test, and troubleshoot prototypes through flight and production hardware, hands-on
  • Partner across disciplines - Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing - to ensure clean system integration
  • Drive technical design reviews and mentor junior optical engineers, shaping both the technical outcome and the next generation of optical talent on the team
  • Support the transition of optical designs from R&D into production, closing the gap between "it works in the lab" and "it works at scale"
Candidate Profile Must-Haves
  • 9+ years of experience in optical design, with direct work in nanophotonics, metasurface design, or optical phased arrays
  • Background in optical compute, laser communications, or 4D lidar, or a closely adjacent field
  • Strong laser system and laser-based architecture experience
  • Hands-on experience taking optical designs from prototype through production
  • US citizenship with eligibility for clearance
  • Willing and able to work on-site full time
  • Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field
Also Great to Have
  • Experience supporting defense or aerospace programs
  • Hands-on experience with optical testing, alignment, and metrology
  • Prior technical leadership or mentorship experience
Why This Role

You'll have real ownership, real impact, and real hardware to point to. This is a chance to work at the leading edge of optical engineering, on systems that push the boundaries of what's possible in defense and aerospace, surrounded by a team that moves fast, cares deeply about getting the physics right, and wants to build things that actually fly.

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