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Optical Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Meta

Display Optical Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$151K - $196K/yr

Meta Reality Labs is seeking a Display Engineer to advance the optical design and display systems that power next-generation virtual and augmented reali.

Muon Space

Manager, Instrument Design

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$184K - $202K/yr

About the role Muon seeks a Manager of Instrument Design to build, mentor, and guide a multidisciplinary team of optical and optomechanical engineers. In this role, you will establish the technical ...

LLNL

Senior Optical Engineer

Livermore, CA · On-site

$9.7K/wk

Design, analyze, assemble, integrate, and test custom and complex optical instrumentation supporting aircraft and spacecraft missions. * Conduct optical system modeling and performance analyses using ...

LLNL

Senior Optical Engineer

Livermore, CA · On-site

$151K - $195K/yr

Design, analyze, assemble, integrate, and test custom and complex optical instrumentation supporting aircraft and spacecraft missions. * Conduct optical system modeling and performance analyses using ...

Coherent

Senior Principal Optical Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · Hybrid

$148K - $204K/yr

Conduct and well manage design documents, ECR/ECO, design change implementation in new product ... D in Optics, Optical Engineering, Opto-mechanical instrumentation. Advanced education ...

Meta

Display Optical Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$173K - $245K/yr

Meta Reality Labs is seeking a Display Engineer to advance the optical design and display systems that power next-generation virtual and augmented reality headsets and wearable devices. In this role ...

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All JobsOptical Design JobsOptical Design Jobs in California

Optical Design information

See California salary details

$79.9K

$142.6K

How much do optical design jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for optical design in California is $140,832.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $141,100.00 and $141,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is optical design?

Optical design is the process of creating systems and components that manipulate light, such as lenses, mirrors, and optical instruments. Professionals in this field use principles of physics and engineering to design devices like cameras, microscopes, telescopes, and fiber optic systems. They often use specialized software to model how light will travel through different materials and configurations, optimizing for factors like image quality and efficiency. Optical designers work in industries ranging from consumer electronics to healthcare and aerospace.

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

To thrive as an Optical Designer, you need a strong background in physics, optics, and mathematics, typically supported by a relevant engineering or science degree. Familiarity with optical design software such as Zemax or Code V, and knowledge of CAD systems are commonly required, with certifications in these tools considered advantageous. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and refining complex designs. These skills ensure the creation of precise, innovative optical systems that meet stringent performance and quality standards.

What are some common challenges faced by optical design engineers in project development?

Optical design engineers often face challenges such as balancing performance requirements with cost and manufacturability, ensuring tolerance to environmental factors, and integrating optics with mechanical and electronic systems. Collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams is essential, as changes in one component can impact the entire system's performance. Staying updated with the latest simulation and modeling tools also helps address these challenges efficiently.

What is the difference between Optical Design vs Optical Engineering?

AspectOptical DesignOptical Engineering
CredentialsDegree in optics, physics, or engineeringDegree in optics, physics, or engineering
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, CAD software, simulation toolsManufacturing, testing labs, integration environments
Industry UsageDeveloping lens systems, optical componentsImplementing, testing, and maintaining optical systems
Search/Comparison IntentFocus on designing optical systemsFocus on applying and optimizing optical systems

Optical Design involves creating and simulating optical systems and components, primarily focusing on the conceptual and detailed design phase. Optical Engineering extends this work into implementing, testing, and maintaining these systems in real-world applications. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds but differ in their focus within the optical development process.

What are popular job titles related to Optical Design jobs in California?

For Optical Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Optical Design jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Optical Design jobs in California are:

Optical Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optical Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, and 7% Nights. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $140,832 per year, or $67.7 per hour.

Staff Optical Communications Engineer

Ephemeris Net

El Segundo, CA • On-site

$137K - $177K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

About Ephemeris Net
We are extending the internet to space.
Ephemeris Net is a pre-seed space networking company on a mission to provide connectivity for all space users through collaborative engineering of commercial space networking solutions. We are creating the infrastructure that will enable the space internet beyond bent pipe by laying the foundational networking infrastructure that will define how data moves through space.
We are supported by our parent incubator Second Order Effects, institutional VCs, and our network of space advisors. As space use scales and more space native networks come online, we believe that now is the chance to build foundational infrastructure for how the internet will work in space.
The Role
We are looking for an Optical Engineer to own the design, build, test, and flight of the optical systems that move data through the Ephemeris Net network, including coherent optical transceivers and the free-space optical assembly that pairs with it.
You will own optical hardware end to end, across both the transceiver and the free-space link. On the transceiver side, this is the fiber optical signal chain: optical modulators, optical hybrids, photodiodes, lasers, fiber splitters, beam splitters. On the free-space side, this includes telescopes/beam expanders, lenses, mirrors and involves ray tracing, tolerancing, and stray light analysis required to close link budgets in orbit. You will be supported by the electrical engineering team for optoelectronic design and a mechanical team for opto-mechanical structure. You will build and fly some of the most sensitive optical hardware ever deployed in space and then scale it to mass manufacturing.
This role will report to the CTO and founder, Nicolas Brown.
Key Responsibilities
Optical System Design & Build
  • Design and assemble coherent transceiver optics from components: optical modulators, optical hybrids, photodetectors
  • Design the free-space optical assembly including optical design and ray tracing: tolerancing, ghost analysis, and stray light analysis to close on-orbit link budgets
  • Design the fiber optical layout, including alignment fixtures and opto-mechanical packaging
  • Own the transmit and receive signal chain performance from RF electrical output through free-space launch and from free-space back to RF electrical

Test & Characterization
  • Develop and execute bench-level test plans for the transceiver and free-space assembly: modulation quality (EVM, constellation diagrams), wavefront quality, noise figure, bandwidth, optical power budgets, thermalization
  • Characterize coherent detection performance: receiver sensitivity, common-mode rejection, and phase noise
  • Verify free-space optical performance: wavefront error, encircled energy, pointing stability, stray light rejection

What We're Looking For
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, applied physics, photonics, electrical engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
  • 4+ years of hands-on experience designing or building robust, precision electro-optical instruments in fiber, free space, or both
  • Working knowledge of one or more areas: coherent detection architectures (IQ modulation/demodulation, balanced detection, optical hybrid operation), free-space optical design (ray tracing, tolerancing, stray light), or laser and fiber systems at the component level
  • Proficiency with optical instrumentation (OSAs, power meters, interferometers, collimated beams, wavefront sensors, beam profilers) and RF and microwave test equipment (network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, high-speed oscilloscopes)
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with optical design and ray tracing software including stray light and ghost analysis
  • Experience designing telescopes, beam expanders, or pointing and tracking optical paths with cameras
  • Familiarity with space-qualified hardware design, environmental testing (thermal, vibration, radiation), or flight heritage optical systems
  • Experience specifying analog PCB requirements for high-bandwidth RF signal chains (TIA, driver amplifiers, bias networks)
  • Active security clearance

What We Offer
Compensation and Benefits:
  • Salary dependent on experience (please note that all posted levels for this role route through the same review process; applying to multiple levels will result in duplicate applications)
    • Engineer II: $150,000 - $190,000
    • Senior Engineer: $170,000 - $210,000
    • Staff Engineer: $200,000 - $250,000
  • Generous equity package (early team member level)
  • 401k program
  • Comprehensive health care coverage
  • Unlimited PTO (we expect you to take at least 4 weeks per year, and leadership does the same)

Work Environment:
  • Hybrid work model: 3 days per week in our office/lab based on project needs
    • During critical phases: When we are in integration, test, or launch prep mode, expect to be in the office more frequently for coordination with the mission team
  • Expected travel: Up to 25% (customer meetings, supplier visits, launch campaign, partner sites, integration sites, other Ephemeris offices)
  • Small team environment
  • Autonomy and space to define how we work and execute.

The Opportunity
  • Build something that does not exist yet: The unique aspects of this optical system mean it is impossible to buy off the shelf
  • Bench to orbit: Your hardware will fly. You will take this from optics on a breadboard to a space-qualified optical terminal
  • Build the space internet: Work on technology that will fundamentally change how space networks operate

Our Vision and Values
Ephemeris Net's vision is to enable an open, space internet that anyone can utilize and access.
We believe that access to better digital connectivity is essential for human progress and that space is the frontier of digital connectivity. We believe that collaboration within market competition is the most effective way to expand the internet into space. Using Ephemeris Net to build space network solutions is how we can proliferate digital connectivity, collaboration, and "the raising of all boats" while achieving a commercial impact.
We care deeply about:
  • Access to connectivity for all
  • Collaboration that raises all boats; we focus on win/win deals
  • Commercial impact: building solutions people value and buy
  • Personal growth and creating a place where people build their careers
  • Putting good out into the world through the work we do and our interactions with each other

We are building a company people feel great about working at. We are seeking people who are open and actively seeking growth-both technical and personal. We value honesty, creativity, and a culture of ownership.
About Our Locations
El Segundo, CA: Located in the heart of the aerospace industry, surrounded by SpaceX, Aerospace Corporation, Northrop Grumman, and hundreds of space startups. A unique ecosystem where strangers on the street are excited about space.
Oakland, CA: Right off BART. Close collaboration opportunities with UC Berkeley and the broader Bay Area networking and space research communities.
Ephemeris Net is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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