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Manager Principal Optical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Microsoft

Principal Optical Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

We are looking for a Principal Optical Engineer to join the System Design team. #SCHIE #azurehwjobs ... Manage and drive the suppliers to develop new fiber-optic building blocks to enable sustainable ...

QinetiQ US

Principal Optical Engineer

Lorton, VA · On-site

Position Overview QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Principal Optical Engineer with strong ... Generate technical documentation and reports and convey or present the information to management ...

QinetiQ US

Principal Optical Engineer

Lorton, VA · On-site

$130K - $168K/yr

QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Principal Optical Engineer with strong laboratory and ... Generate technical documentation and reports and convey or present the information to management ...

QinetiQ US

Principal Optical Engineer

Lorton, VA · On-site

Position Overview QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Principal Optical Engineer with strong ... Generate technical documentation and reports and convey or present the information to management ...

QinetiQ US

Principal Optical Engineer

Lorton, VA

Position Overview QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Principal Optical Engineer with strong ... Generate technical documentation and reports and convey or present the information to management ...

QinetiQ

Principal Optical Engineer

Lorton, VA

Position Overview QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Principal Optical Engineer with strong ... Generate technical documentation and reports and convey or present the information to management ...

QinetiQ

Principal Optical Engineer

Lorton, VA

Position Overview QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Principal Optical Engineer with strong ... Generate technical documentation and reports and convey or present the information to management ...

QinetiQ

Principal Optical Engineer

Lorton, VA

Position Overview QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Principal Optical Engineer with strong ... Generate technical documentation and reports and convey or present the information to management ...

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Principal Optical Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$175K - $195K/yr

... as Principal Optical Engineer. In this position, you will provide technical leadership in the ... Manage integration of these components with mechanical and electronic control systems. * Lead and ...

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Principal Optical Engineer

Irvine, CA · Hybrid

$175K - $195K/yr

... as Principal Optical Engineer. In this position, you will provide technical leadership in the ... Manage integration of these components with mechanical and electronic control systems. * Lead and ...

OMNIVISION

Optical Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$120K - $200K/yr

The Sr/Staff/Principal Optical Engineer works in an aggressive, fast-paced R&D environment to develop and design optical structure to improve image sensor performance. Responsibilities: * Design ...

OMNIVISION

Optical Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$120K - $200K/yr

The Sr/Staff/Principal Optical Engineer works in an aggressive, fast-paced R&D environment to develop and design optical structure to improve image sensor performance. Responsibilities: * Design ...

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Manager Principal Optical Engineer information

See salary details

$83K

$143.6K

$168.5K

How much do manager principal optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for manager principal 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Manager Principal Optical Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Manager Principal Optical Engineer, you need advanced expertise in optical engineering, physics, and system design, typically backed by a master’s or Ph.D. in optics or a related field. Familiarity with optical simulation tools (such as Zemax or Code V), CAD software, and experience managing optical prototyping and testing are crucial. Outstanding leadership, project management, and communication skills help guide multidisciplinary teams and drive complex projects to completion. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering innovative optical solutions, ensuring project success, and fostering a collaborative engineering environment.

What is the difference between Manager Principal Optical Engineer vs Optical Engineer?

AspectManager Principal Optical EngineerOptical Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees (MS/PhD) in optics or related fields, with leadership experienceBachelor's or Master's in optics, physics, or engineering
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, and collaborates with cross-functional departmentsFocuses on designing, testing, and analyzing optical systems
Industry UsageUsed in high-tech, aerospace, defense, and research organizationsCommon in manufacturing, R&D, and product development sectors

The main difference is that the Manager Principal Optical Engineer oversees teams and projects, requiring leadership skills, while the Optical Engineer primarily focuses on technical design and analysis tasks. Both roles require strong technical credentials, but the managerial responsibilities distinguish the Manager Principal Optical Engineer.

What are Manager Principal Optical Engineers?

Manager Principal Optical Engineers are senior-level professionals who oversee the design, development, and optimization of optical systems and components, such as lenses, lasers, and fiber optics. In addition to their technical expertise, they manage teams of engineers, coordinate projects, and collaborate with other departments to ensure that optical solutions meet performance, cost, and quality goals. They also play a key role in mentoring junior staff and contributing to the strategic planning of optical engineering initiatives within an organization.

How does a Manager Principal Optical Engineer typically balance technical project responsibilities with team leadership duties?

In this role, you'll split your time between hands-on optical engineering—such as system design, simulation, and troubleshooting—and leading a team of engineers. You'll be responsible for setting technical direction, mentoring junior staff, and ensuring project milestones are met. Effective communication and delegation are crucial, as you'll often coordinate with cross-functional teams in mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. Balancing these aspects requires strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize both immediate technical challenges and long-term strategic goals.
More about Manager Principal Optical Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Manager Principal Optical Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Manager 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 Manager Principal Optical Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Manager Principal Optical Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Manager Principal Optical Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Manager Principal Optical Engineer jobs are:
Manager Principal Optical Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Manager Principal Optical Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 14% As Needed, 50% Full Time, 29% Part Time, and 7% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,611 per year, or $69 per hour.
Principal Optical Engineer

Principal Optical Engineer

QuEra Computing, Inc.

Boston, MA

$151K - $236K/yr

Other

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Principal Optical Engineer

The Hardware Engineering Group at QuEra Computing is seeking strong candidates for a Principal Optical Engineer to serve as a senior individual contributor to the company's mission of building state-of-the-art, manufacturable, and deployable neutral atom quantum computers. The Hardware Engineering Group plays a crucial role in accelerating the company's technology leadership and translating the company's scientific breakthroughs into products delivered to customers. To accomplish this mission, we are looking to hire a candidate with graduate-level education in optics, optical engineering, or applied physics with industry experience in an enterprise engineering environment. The ideal candidate will combine a deep, fundamental understanding of several areas of optics, design, and engineering. Although candidates with a Ph.D. in physics may be considered, applicants should ensure they have sufficient professional experience beyond academia in an enterprise engineering environment to establish themselves independently as a Principal-level engineer.

Key Job Responsibilities
  • Optical module design and development
  • Work with physicists to understand requirements and architect optical systems, sub-systems, modules, and components to support QuEra's neutral atom computers through the full development lifecycle (R&D, productization, maintenance, and beyond).
  • Technically lead an interdisciplinary team of engineers (optical, electronic, mechanical, etc.) through the product development process to take an optical module from early phase concept through to implementation and production.
  • Advance state-of-the-art engineering practices at QuEra through independent research, problem-solving, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Coordinate closely with the R&D/science team to enable cutting-edge R&D and translate scientific advances into the next generation of products.
  • Troubleshoot technical issues at company headquarters and off-site installations at customer locations (in coordination with local support team).
Qualifications

Required:

  • Master's degree in optics, optical engineering, applied physics, or a closely related field.
  • 10-15 years non-academic work experience.  Experience at an enterprise scale as well as startup preferred.
  • Deep experience and knowledge of 
    • Free-space optics
    • Lens design
    • Fiber optics
    • Lasers
    • Optical system characterization and testing
    • Opto-mechanics
  • Experience bringing complex optical systems from concept to production
  • Expertise with using Mechanical CAD software (e.g. Inventor, Solidworks), Product Data Management (PDM) software, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software
  • Expertise with Optical simulation software (e.g. Zemax)

Preferred:

  • Experience with quantum computing, especially neutral atom
  • Professional work experience in commercial product development and off-site product deployment at customer premises.

#LI-DA1

The approximate base salary range for this position is $151,200 - $236,250.

We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly.  We determine base compensation decisions on several factors, including as geographic placement, role-specific knowledge, skills, and/or experience.  In addition to our base salary offerings, we also provide equity grants for all new hires.

QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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