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Laser Physicist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

MS or PhD in Physics or Optical Engineering w/ a minimum of 5 years of direct hands-on fiber laser experience including designing, building, characterizing laser systems * Knowledge of the laser ...

Quantum Physicist

Madison, WI · On-site

$130K - $211K/yr

Design, assemble, and test laser and optical systems. * Ownership of subsystems to maintain high availability and high performance. * Mentor and teach junior team members as indirect reports.

Design, assemble, and test laser and optical systems. * Ownership of subsystems to maintain high availability and high performance. * Mentor and teach junior team members as indirect reports.

Quantum Physicist

Boulder, CO · On-site

$130K - $211K/yr

Design, assemble, and test laser and optical systems. * Ownership of subsystems to maintain high availability and high performance. * Mentor and teach junior team members as indirect reports.

Design, assemble, and test laser and optical systems. * Ownership of subsystems to maintain high availability and high performance. * Mentor and teach junior team members as indirect reports.

Design, assemble, and test laser and optical systems. * Ownership of subsystems to maintain high availability and high performance. * Mentor and teach junior team members as indirect reports.

Quantum Physicist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $211K/yr

Design, assemble, and test laser and optical systems. * Ownership of subsystems to maintain high availability and high performance. * Mentor and teach junior team members as indirect reports.

Quantum Physicist

Boulder, CO · On-site

$130K - $211K/yr

Design, assemble, and test laser and optical systems. * Ownership of subsystems to maintain high availability and high performance. * Mentor and teach junior team members as indirect reports.

Bachelor's/ Master's/ PHD degree in optics, optoelectronics, laser physics, electrical engineering, photonics or a related field * 2+ years' experience in High Energy Laser design, analysis, and ...

Qualifications • High School Diploma required, associate's degree in laser electro-optics technology, photonics, or a related engineering/physics field preferred, or comparable military experience ...

This role demands deep expertise in laser physics, control systems, and embedded implementation. You will own the technical vision for laser control-spanning optical power regulation, current control ...

Lead Experimental Physicist

Denver, CO · On-site

$200K - $225K/yr

Design and execute experiments involving lasers, spectroscopy, imaging, and time resolved ... PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field, or equivalent ...

Health Physicist

Edwards, CA · On-site

$82K - $140K/yr

This unique opportunity supports radiation safety, laser safety, radiofrequency safety, and operational health physics activities within one of the most technically advanced aerospace research ...

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Laser Physicist information

See salary details

$39.5K

$94.8K

$226.5K

How much do laser physicist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for laser physicist in the United States is $94,805.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,000.00 and $112,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Laser Physicist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Laser Physicist, you need a strong background in physics or optical engineering, advanced mathematics, and hands-on experience with laser systems, usually supported by at least a master's or Ph.D. in a relevant field. Familiarity with simulation software, optical design tools (such as Zemax or COMSOL), and laser safety certifications is often required. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills help distinguish top candidates in collaborative research and development settings. These competencies are crucial for safely designing, operating, and optimizing complex laser systems in both industrial and academic environments.

What are some typical projects or responsibilities for a Laser Physicist?

Laser Physicists typically work on designing, developing, and optimizing laser systems for applications in fields like telecommunications, manufacturing, medical devices, or scientific research. Daily responsibilities often include conducting experiments, analyzing data, troubleshooting technical issues, and collaborating with engineers or other scientists to meet project goals. Many Laser Physicists also document their findings, publish research, or support product development efforts. Collaboration is common, as you may work alongside multidisciplinary teams to integrate laser technologies into new products or processes. This variety keeps the role dynamic and allows for significant professional growth within both industry and academic settings.

What does a Laser Physicist do?

A Laser Physicist researches, develops, and applies laser technology for scientific, industrial, medical, or defense applications. They study laser generation, manipulation, and interactions with materials to enhance performance or discover new uses. Their work can involve designing laser systems, optimizing beam properties, and ensuring safety standards. They often collaborate with engineers and researchers to develop cutting-edge laser-based solutions.

More about Laser Physicist jobs
What cities are hiring for Laser Physicist jobs? Cities with the most Laser Physicist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Laser Physicist jobs? The most popular types of Laser Physicist jobs are:
What states have the most Laser Physicist jobs? States with the most job openings for Laser Physicist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Laser Physicist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 8% As Needed, 53% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 23% Contract, and 8% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,805 per year, or $45.6 per hour.
Fiber Laser Scientist II

Fiber Laser Scientist II

NSS

Herndon, VA • On-site

Other

Posted 8 days ago


Job description

Fiber Laser Scientist
Herndon, VA

While working as a Fiber Laser Scientist at Fibertek, you will lead the design and development, integration, and test of advanced fiber laser systems typically with performance requirements beyond the state-of-the-art. Fibertek is a leader in the design, development, and delivery of advanced laser systems and technologies for military and aerospace applications.

Your JobWe are looking for and experienced and motivated fiber laser scientist or engineer to join a multi-disciplinary team and lead the design and demonstration of advanced laser systems. Example focus missions include space-based laser communications, lidar for tactical defense applications, earth-sensing lidar, and navigational lidars for planetary and docking missions. Fibertek's engineering teams simultaneously tackle laser optical performance beyond state-of-the-art while engineering systems for performance on challenging platforms with limited size, mass, and power and over stressing vibration, thermal, and/or radiation conditions. Delivered systems make a national impact to customers at NASA and throughout the defense community. The work-load will at times include multiple concurrent projects with a mix of short duration research programs and longer duration technology maturation programs resulting in a work culture that is team-oriented, intellectually stimulating, and consistently rewarding.
  • Lead the engineering development of unique laser designs through modeling fiber laser performance, design analysis, component specification, and hardware assembly, integration, and test
  • Coordinate and support the build, alignment, and performance characterization of fiber lasers including multi-stage amplifiers, phase & amplitude modulation implementation, spectral and coherent beam combining
  • Coordinate and perform formal acceptance and qualification testing
  • Participate in customer interactions including formal technical reviews
Required Skills and ExperienceTo exceed in this Fiber Laser Scientist role, you'll need the below expertise and experience:
  • MS or PhD in Physics or Optical Engineering w/ a minimum of 5 years of direct hands-on fiber laser experience including designing, building, characterizing laser systems
  • Knowledge of the laser theory and industry best practices associated with fiber laser systems including continuous wave lasers, pulsed, high peak power fiber, advanced fiber architectures, single-frequency injection locked lasers, low frequency noise lasers, electrical and thermal sub-systems.
  • Expertise in laser physics of fiber lasers and amplifiers, including ytterbium, erbium, and/or thulium gain materials.
  • Familiarity with relevant nonlinear processes and impacts to laser performance. Examples include Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, Four-Wave Mixing, Stimulated Raman Scattering, and Transverse Modulational Instability.
  • Foundational understanding of fiber-optic components including types of fibers, pump lasers, couplers, modulators, isolators, mode-field adapters, polarization components, and others.
  • Knowledge of tools for modeling fiber laser performance such as Matlab, RP Power Fiber or equivalent software
  • Ability to design and execute experiments validating laser system performance and correlate the results with the expected performance
  • Strong communication and documentation skills for efficient multidisciplinary communication
  • US citizenship required
Please apply today for this full-time Herndon-based Fiber Laser Scientist role and join the leader in the development of state-of-the-art laser and electro-optic solutions.
Why Fibertek, Inc?
At FIBERTEK, Inc. we pride ourselves in our innovation and customer success focused culture enabled by a creative and relaxed work environment with minimal bureaucracy. Fibertek fosters a progressive learning environment that values inspiration, promotes professional challenge and encourages personal growth. We offer a competitive and incentivized compensation package with excellent benefits.
Fibertek, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Applicants are considered regardless of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable law. If you need assistance or an accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact us by phone at 571-299-4487 or via email at hr@fibertek.com.

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About NSS

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NSS RPO was founded by Jessica Nicholson and Conor Nicholson in 2009. They saw the need for a nice services company that valued their employees by putting them first. With Jessica’s organizational skills and strategy along with Conor’s network, the company employed 25 contract recruiters in less than a year and proceeded to make the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in America, three years in a row. Since its inception, NSS RPO has hired hundreds of recruiters in over 30 states. NSS RPO is proud to include among its clients eight of the ten largest government contractors, the world's largest job board, entertainment company and one of the nation’s largest banks. NSS RPO is your trusted provider of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) solutions. Founded by an experienced recruiter and solely focused on RPO, NSS RPO offers a strong network of exceptional recruiters and customizable staffing solutions. Named to Washington Business Journal’s prestigious list of Top 25 Staffing Agencies seven years in a row, NSS RPO is known for its quality, agility, and expertise. If you have a recruitment staffing need at your organization, NSS RPO can customize a solution for you, no matter how big or small.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

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