ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Optical Engineer Intern Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Missile Defense Agency Careers

$129K/yr

... optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics and I have included my transcripts with my ... Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsOptical Engineer Intern JobsOptical Engineer Intern Jobs in Colorado

Optical Engineer Intern information

See Colorado salary details

$14

$26

$40

How much do optical engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for optical engineer intern in Colorado is $26.73, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.73 and $30.34 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Optical Engineer Intern position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Optical Engineer Intern, you need a solid background in physics, optics, and mathematics, generally demonstrated through coursework or laboratory experience in optical engineering or related fields. Familiarity with optical design software (such as Zemax or Code V), CAD programs, and laboratory instrumentation is often required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, effective communication, and the ability to work collaboratively make candidates stand out. These skills enable interns to contribute meaningfully to technical projects, accurately perform experiments, and smoothly integrate with multidisciplinary engineering teams.

What kinds of projects or tasks do Optical Engineer Interns typically work on during their internship?

Optical Engineer Interns often contribute to a variety of projects, such as assisting in the design and optimization of optical systems, supporting laboratory experiments, analyzing test data, and building prototypes for product development. Interns may work closely with senior engineers to develop optical models or perform simulations, and may also be involved in troubleshooting system issues or improving manufacturing processes. The work is typically hands-on and collaborative, offering frequent opportunities to learn from experienced professionals and to gain real-world experience in the field. This exposure provides interns with valuable technical skills and insight into the daily responsibilities of an optical engineer.

What does an Optical Engineer Intern do?

An Optical Engineer Intern assists in designing, testing, and optimizing optical systems, such as lenses, lasers, and imaging devices. They work under experienced engineers to conduct experiments, analyze data, and develop prototypes. Their responsibilities may also include running simulations, troubleshooting optical components, and documenting findings. This role provides hands-on experience in optics and photonics, crucial for careers in research, manufacturing, and product development.

What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Engineer jobs in Colorado? The most popular types of Optical Engineer jobs in Colorado are:
What are popular job titles related to Optical Engineer Intern jobs in Colorado? For Optical Engineer Intern jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Optical Engineer Intern jobs in Colorado look for? The top searched job categories for Optical Engineer Intern jobs in Colorado are:
What cities in Colorado are hiring for Optical Engineer Intern jobs? Cities in Colorado with the most Optical Engineer Intern job openings:
Optical Engineer Intern jobs near you

General Engineer (Resident Engineer)

SD Department of Veterans Affairs

Fort Logan, CO • On-site

$106K/yr

Other

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

The non-supervisory Resident Engineer (RE) is a member of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Construction & Facilities Management (CFM) on-the-ground team for construction projects in multiple locations. CFM is always the owner of the construction project & serves as Construction Agent, however CFM does partner with various Non-Department Federal Entity (NDFE - e.g., GSA, USAGE, etc.) to serve as Construction Agent within both the Leasing & Major construction programs.Qualifications:To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/19/2026.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Individual Occupational Requirements:
All Professional Engineering Positions have Individual Occupational Requirements. Applicants must meet the basic requirements listed below.
  • Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR
  • Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
    • Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
    • Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
    • Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
    • Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.)
In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the specialized experience as described below:
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12 level) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: managing several engineering and contracts simultaneously; provide support on the full range of technical, financial and analytical aspects of projects; provide guidance, direction, and policy interpretation on sensitive and complex issues in support of the acquisition and administration of major construction projects; monitor project performance, client comments and concerns, operational considerations and outside influences including state and local governments, political interest groups and other known agencies having a potential impact on the project; develop written responses to congressional inquiries and coordinate resolution of problems that are politically sensitive; experience in applying fundamental and diversified professional engineering concepts, theories, and practices to achieve engineering objectives with versatility, judgment, and perception; adapt and apply methods and techniques of related scientific disciplines.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.Education:There is no educational substitution for experience for the GS-13 levels. However, you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the Engineering (800) series: (Transcripts Required)
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.Employment Type: OTHER

Apply