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Opt Engineer Jobs in Maryland (NOW HIRING)

SMX is hiring a Data Engineer responsible for designing, building, and maintaining scalable data ... H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of ...

Plant Engineer III

Lanham, MD · On-site

$24 - $50/hr

First Grade Stationary Plant Engineer License from the State of Maryland. * Universal CFC ... Benefit offerings based on employment status Opt-in for text notifications! Luminis Health's two ...

Mechanical Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

$60 - $70/hr

Lead Mechanical Engineer opportunity with our client in the satellite communications and aerospace ... Reply STOP to opt out of receiving telephone calls and text messages from Judge and HELP for help.

This Senior Systems Engineer candidate will support a new start program called APPA to assist with ... H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of ...

Reverse engineering experience. * Produce and modify software systems in C/C++/Python. * Provide ... Upgrade your devices regularly, or opt for a year-end bonus if you don't need new tech. * Training ...

The benefits that allow a salary increase should you opt-out include: Medical Dental/Vision PTO ... Engineer opportunities with InterImage Staffing email.

DevOps Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$300K/yr

... s Engineer to support a fast-paced software development and infrastructure team. The ideal ... opt out of the health plan * 100% employer-paid dental insurance * 100% employer-paid vision ...

DevOps Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$300K/yr

... s Engineer to support a fast-paced software development and infrastructure team. The ideal ... opt out of the health plan * 100% employer-paid dental insurance * 100% employer-paid vision ...

DevOps Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$300K/yr

... s Engineer to support a fast-paced software development and infrastructure team. The ideal ... opt out of the health plan * 100% employer-paid dental insurance * 100% employer-paid vision ...

Showing results 21-40

Opt Engineer information

See Maryland salary details

$35.9K

$84.7K

$132.5K

How much do opt engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for opt engineer in Maryland is $84,650.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,200.00 and $94,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an opt engineer do?

An Opt Engineer, or Optical Engineer, designs, develops, and optimizes optical systems and components used in various applications, such as telecommunications, medical devices, and imaging systems. They apply principles of optics, physics, and engineering to create high-performance optical solutions. Their responsibilities may include lens design, laser system development, fiber optics, and optical testing. Additionally, they collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure integration with electronic and mechanical components.

What types of projects and teams do opt engineers typically work on?

Opt Engineers often collaborate on multidisciplinary teams to design, prototype, and test optical components or systems such as lenses, lasers, or imaging devices. Your daily responsibilities may involve hands-on laboratory work, simulations using specialized software, and presenting technical findings to colleagues and stakeholders. You’ll likely work with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers, and may interact with manufacturing or quality assurance teams throughout a project's lifecycle. This environment encourages ongoing learning and cross-functional problem-solving, offering opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in fields like telecommunications, healthcare, and aerospace. As you gain experience, you can move into lead engineering roles, project management, or specialized technical positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an opt engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as an Opt Engineer, you need strong analytical skills, a thorough understanding of optics and photonics, and a relevant degree in physics, optical engineering, or a related field. Proficiency with optical design software (such as Zemax or Code V), laboratory equipment, and familiarity with industry standards or certifications like SPIE or OSA membership can be advantageous. Excellent problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and strong communication skills set candidates apart in this collaborative and detail-oriented field. These skills are crucial for developing precise optical systems, troubleshooting complex issues, and ensuring successful project outcomes in diverse technical environments.

What is an optical engineer?

An optical engineer designs, develops, and tests systems and devices that use light, such as lenses, lasers, and imaging systems. They often work with optical materials, precision instruments, and may use tools like CAD software and optical testing equipment to ensure performance and accuracy.

What are the most commonly searched types of Opt Engineer jobs in Maryland?

The most popular types of Opt Engineer jobs in Maryland are:

Infographic showing various Opt Engineer job openings in Maryland as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,650 per year, or $40.7 per hour.

Cleared Hybrid Data Engineer (5418)

SMX

Hanover, MD • On-site, Remote

$103K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

SMX is hiring a Data Engineer responsible for designing, building, and maintaining scalable data architecture that powers our AI, analytics and reporting. Collaborate closely with Analysts, AI Engineers, and Software Engineers to transform raw, unstructured data into high-quality, accessible data pipelines. Optimizing data systems, building them from the ground up, and ensuring peak data reliability and performance. This role is essential for making data accessible, reliable, and usable across the enterprise.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Design, construct, install, test, and maintain highly scalable data management systems and robust ELT/ETL pipelines across cloud and on-prem systems.
  • Build infrastructure required for optimal extraction, transformation, and loading of data from a wide variety of data sources using cloud technologies. Support API strategy, data modeling, and domain-driven data structures.
  • Implement monitoring systems to ensure data integrity, quality, and security across all storage and processing layers. Implement data quality checks, validation, lineage tracking, and metadata management.
  • Prepare and optimize data for AI/ML models, semantic search, analytics, and mission applications.
  • Identify, design, and implement internal process improvements, such as automating manual processes and optimizing data delivery for greater scalability. Automate ingestion and transformation processes using industry-standard tools and patterns. Troubleshoot pipeline issues and optimize for performance and cost.
  • Work with analytics and business teams to understand their data requirements and deliver production-ready datasets. Collaborate with AI engineers and analysts to ensure datasets meet requirements.

Required Skills & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Engineering
  • 4+ years of progressive professional experience in a data engineering or backend software engineering role
  • Security clearance required (Secret or higher)
  • Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, Java.
  • Experience with cloud data warehouses such as Snowflake and AWS Redshift.
  • Familiarity with distributed computing tools like Spark, Databricks, and Kafka.
  • Experience with Azure Data Factory, AWS Glue, or similar data integration platforms.
  • Experience with workflow management tools like Apache Airflow.
  • Hands-on experience with AWS, GCP, or Azure cloud environments. Familiarity with multi-cloud data ecosystem patterns.
  • Experience integrating structured and unstructured data sources. Knowledge of schema design, data modeling, and cloud-based storage patterns.

Desired Skills & Experience
  • Experience supporting AI/ML pipelines, vectorization, or embedding generation
  • Experience with data governance, access controls, or sensitive data protection
  • Exposure to DevOps/CI-CD patterns for data workflows
  • MuleSoft implementation experience
  • Experience with real-time data streaming and event-driven architectures

The SMX salary determination process takes into account a number of factors, including but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories, relevant prior work experience, specific skills, education and certifications. At SMX, one of our Core Values is to Invest in Our People so we offer a competitive mix of compensation, learning & development opportunities, and benefits. Some key components of our robust benefits include health insurance, paid leave, and retirement.
The proposed salary for this position is:
$103,000-$171,800 USD
At SMX®, we are a team of technical and domain experts dedicated to enabling your mission. From priority national security initiatives for the DoD to highly assured and compliant solutions for healthcare, we understand that digital transformation is key to your future success.
We share your vision for the future and strive to accelerate your impact on the world. We bring both cutting edge technology and an expansive view of what's possible to every engagement. Our delivery model and unique approaches harness our deep technical and domain knowledge, providing forward-looking insights and practical solutions to power secure mission acceleration.
SMX is an Equal Opportunity employer including disabilities and veterans.
Selected applicant may be subject to a background investigation and/or education verification.
SMX does not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization or immigration related support for this position (i.e. H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).

SMX logo

About SMX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our tradition of delivering innovative, technical solutions dates back to 1995, however, you may know us better by one of our legacy company names: Trident Technologies, Smartronix, Datastrong or C2S Consulting Group. With the support of OceanSound Partners, our private equity investment sponsor, we began operating as one business starting in 2019 and became SMX in 2021. We operate in close proximity to our clients around the globe and have core locations in Alabama, California, DC Metro, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Today, as SMX, we are one team and together empower government and commercial enterprises to become more effective, innovative, and resilient, no matter what challenges they face.

Industry

It services

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hollywood, MD, US