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Optical Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

AOI

Reliability Engineer

Sugar Land, TX · On-site

$90 - $125/hr

A reliability engineer will be responsible for reliability testing, modeling, and testing tool maintenance in optical laser fabrication. He/She should have a good understanding of reliability ...

Actalent

MOCVD Engineer

Sugar Land, TX

$40 - $80/hr

Develop and optimize epitaxial growth processes for photonic and optical communication applications ... Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related technical field.

New

Gtatelecom

Manager, Network Engineering

Houston, TX · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Manager, Network Engineering The Manager, Network Engineering is a leadership opportunity within ... This role focuses on IP/MPLS and optical networking technologies, including BGP, MPLS, IS-IS, OSPF ...

New

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsOptical Engineer JobsOptical Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Optical Engineer information

See Houston, TX salary details

$79.3K

$137.1K

$160.9K

How much do optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for optical engineer in Houston, TX is $137,144.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,200.00 and $159,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Optical Engineer vs Optical Technician?

AspectOptical EngineerOptical Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in optical engineering, physics, or related fieldAssociate's degree or technical certification in optics or related field
Work EnvironmentDesign, development, and testing of optical systems in labs or R&D settingsAssembly, alignment, and maintenance of optical equipment in manufacturing or labs
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, tech companies, aerospace, defenseManufacturers, optical labs, production facilities

Optical Engineers focus on designing and developing optical systems, requiring higher education and involved in R&D. Optical Technicians handle the assembly, alignment, and maintenance of optical devices, often with technical certifications. Both roles are essential in the optics industry but differ in responsibilities and qualifications.

What does an optical engineer do?

An optical engineer oversees the scientific application of optics and light in an industrial, research, or manufacturing setting. As an optical engineering professional, your responsibilities include the design of instruments and products that rely on optics, from space telescopes to DVD players. You also may work in research and development to create new technologies and applications for optical science. Your specific duties and the level of education you need varies depending on the field in which you work

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an optical engineer?

To thrive as an Optical Engineer, you need a solid background in physics, optics, and mathematics, typically supported by a degree in optical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with optical design software (such as Zemax or Code V), CAD tools, and laboratory equipment is commonly required, along with relevant certifications like SPIE or OSA membership. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for success in this field. These skills and qualifications are vital for designing precise optical systems, solving complex technical challenges, and collaborating on innovative projects.

What are some typical challenges optical engineers face when working on new product development?

Optical Engineers involved in new product development often encounter challenges such as balancing optical performance with manufacturability and cost constraints. They must collaborate closely with mechanical and electrical engineers to ensure system integration meets all technical requirements. Additionally, they need to troubleshoot issues that arise during prototyping, such as unexpected aberrations or alignment difficulties, and iterate designs rapidly to meet project timelines. Effective communication and creative problem-solving are essential in overcoming these hurdles.

What does an optical engineer do?

An optical engineer designs and develops devices and systems that use the properties of light, such as lenses, lasers, microscopes, and fiber optics. They use principles of physics and engineering to solve problems related to the generation, transmission, and detection of light. Optical engineers work in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing. Their work often involves research, testing, and improving optical components and systems to enhance performance and efficiency.

Are optical engineers in high demand?

Optical engineers are in high demand due to their expertise in designing and developing optical systems for industries such as telecommunications, healthcare, and defense. The field offers strong job growth prospects, especially for those with skills in laser technology, photonics, and optical design software. Continuous advancements in technology contribute to sustained employment opportunities for optical engineers.

What do optical engineers work on?

Optical engineers design, develop, and test optical systems and components such as lenses, lasers, and imaging devices. They work on projects related to telecommunications, medical instruments, imaging systems, and laser technology, often using tools like CAD software and requiring knowledge of physics and optics principles.
More about Optical Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Engineer jobs in Houston, TX? The most popular types of Optical Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:
What are popular job titles related to Optical Engineer jobs in Houston, TX? For Optical Engineer jobs in Houston, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Optical Engineer jobs in Houston, TX look for? The top searched job categories for Optical Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:
What cities near Houston, TX are hiring for Optical Engineer jobs? Cities near Houston, TX with the most Optical Engineer job openings:
Optical Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optical Engineer job openings in Houston, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $137,144 per year, or $65.9 per hour.

Computer Programmer II (Hybrid) Neurosurgery - Galveston

UTMB Health

Galveston, TX • Hybrid

$48K - $60K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago

UTMB Health rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 168 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

268th of 887 rated healthcare providers

Job description

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Associate's degree or equivalent in related field and one year related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science,Electrical Engineering, or related field.
  • Proficiency in Python required; strong experience in libraries such as NumPy,OpenCV, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
  • Experience interfacing with optical and electronic components (e.g., cameras,LEDs, filter wheels, motion stages, serial/USB communication).
  • Working knowledge of image processing and signal analysis.
  • Demonstrated ability to design, test, and document engineering systems in a collaborative environment.
  • Experience with real-time image acquisition and GPU acceleration (CUDA orOpenCL).
  • Familiarity with biomedical or scientific imaging systems.
  • Experience with machine learning or AI-driven image analysis.

Job Description:

To provide technical skills in the preparation and use of programs for the solution of problems by electronic computers. Join a multidisciplinary team developing next-generation optical imaging systems for neurosurgery. This position will focus on designing and optimizing software to control and integrate optical components (LEDs, cameras, filters, motion systems), while developing robust pipelines for real-time data acquisition, visualization, and analysis. A central objective is to leverage the data generated from these systems to build and train machine learning and AI algorithms for improved image-based detection and classification using advanced image processing techniques. The work directly supports translational technology development-taking innovations from bench to bedside to improve visualization and precision during brain tumor surgery.

Essential Duties 

  •  Develop and maintain Python-based control software for optical subsystems (LED drivers, cameras, filters, motorized stages, DAQs, etc.). 
  • Design and implement real-time data acquisition and visualization pipelines for fluorescence, spectral, and photoacoustic imaging. 
  • Build and evaluate machine learning models (e.g., classification, segmentation, regression) for improved detection and image analysis.  
  • Collaborate with optical engineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians to integrate software with hardware systems and perform benchtop and intraoperative validation. 
  • Translate research-grade prototypes into clinically deployable systems 

  • Maintain organized documentation, version control (Git), and contribute to shared multi-site data workflows.
     

    Working Conditions Hybrid lab/office environment; occasional off-hours support for experiments or intraoperative imaging sessions
     

Salary Range:
Commensurate with experience  $48,000-$60,000
 

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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