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Optical Fiber Engineer Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at ... This is a hands-on engineering / manufacturing role working in collaboration with the Division ...

Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at ... This is a hands-on engineering / manufacturing role working in collaboration with the Division ...

Optical Metrology Engineer

Fairport, NY · On-site

$112K - $155K/yr

Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at ... Ability to function on a product development team of multi-disciplinary engineers. Experience and ...

Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at ... Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Optics, Physics, or Engineering field preferred or ...

Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at ... You'll partner directly with engineering, operations, and R&D leaders on critical manufacturing ...

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Optical Fiber Engineer information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$81.9K

$141.7K

$166.3K

How much do optical fiber engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for optical fiber engineer in Rochester, NY is $141,696.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,300.00 and $164,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Optical Fiber Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Optical Fiber Engineer, you need strong knowledge of fiber optic theory, network design, and installation practices, often backed by a degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with tools like OTDRs, splicing machines, CAD software, and certifications such as FOA CFOT are typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication help engineers excel in troubleshooting and project coordination. These skills ensure reliable, high-performance network installations and maintenance, which are critical for modern communications infrastructure.

What does an Optical Fiber Engineer do?

An Optical Fiber Engineer specializes in the design, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of fiber optic communication systems. They work on laying fiber optic cables, configuring optical network equipment, and ensuring optimal data transmission over long distances. Optical Fiber Engineers are essential for supporting high-speed internet, telecommunications, and data connectivity in various industries. Their responsibilities also include testing fiber connections, maintaining network reliability, and adhering to safety standards.

What engineers make $500,000?

Highly experienced engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. These roles typically require advanced skills, extensive experience, and sometimes leadership or executive responsibilities.

How much do fiber optic engineers get paid?

Fiber optic engineers typically earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced engineers with specialized skills can earn higher salaries, especially in industries requiring advanced knowledge of fiber optic systems and installation tools.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles. High-level positions often involve managing large teams, complex projects, or working in high-demand industries with competitive compensation packages.

What is the highest paid fiber optic technician?

The highest paid fiber optic technicians typically earn salaries exceeding $70,000 annually, especially those with advanced certifications, extensive experience, or specialized skills in fiber splicing and network installation. Senior technicians or those working in high-demand industries or regions may earn higher compensation, often supplemented by overtime or project bonuses.

What is the difference between Optical Fiber Engineer vs Optical Network Technician?

AspectOptical Fiber EngineerOptical Network Technician
CredentialsBachelor's degree in telecommunications, electrical engineering, or related field; certifications like FOA or Cisco CCNAHigh school diploma or equivalent; certifications such as FOA Fiber Optic Technician
Work EnvironmentDesign, plan, and oversee fiber optic installations; office and fieldworkInstall, maintain, and repair fiber optic networks; primarily fieldwork
Industry UsageTelecommunications, internet service providers, data centersTelecom companies, ISPs, network service providers

While both roles involve working with fiber optics, Optical Fiber Engineers focus on designing and planning fiber optic systems, whereas Optical Network Technicians handle installation and maintenance. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus within the fiber optics industry.

What are some common challenges Optical Fiber Engineers face during large-scale network deployments?

Optical Fiber Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple stakeholders, navigating difficult terrain for cable installation, and ensuring minimal signal loss over long distances. They must also manage tight project timelines and adhere to strict safety and regulatory standards. Effective communication and problem-solving skills are essential, as the role frequently involves troubleshooting issues in collaboration with field technicians, project managers, and network planners.
What are popular job titles related to Optical Fiber Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY? For Optical Fiber Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Optical Fiber Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY look for? The top searched job categories for Optical Fiber Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY are:
What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Optical Fiber Engineer jobs? Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Optical Fiber Engineer job openings:
Optical Coating Engineer

Optical Coating Engineer

Corning

Fairport, NY

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 hours ago


Corning rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 124 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

80th of 518 rated manufacturers


Job description

Requisition Number: 74909

The company built on breakthroughs. ​  
Join us.​            
       

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.  ​  

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations – not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company, and the world, forward. ​  

​At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.​   

Come break through with us.  

Corning’s businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. We are changing the world with: 

  • Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
  • Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected
  • Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light
  • Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences 
  • Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation 
  • Solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules, enabling low-cost solar energy solutions

Scope of Position:

As a member of the Advanced Optics Division Engineering Optical Thin Film Coating group, you will define and develop optical thin film coatings and manufacturing processes that build on Corning’s existing knowledge base to move products into coating production.

This is a hands-on engineering / manufacturing role working in collaboration with the Division Engineering Optical Design, Mechanical Design, and System Test teams, as well as the Development Engineering, Plant Engineering, and Program Management teams.

Major Responsibilities:

  • Design robust, cost-effective coating production processes using existing methods that meet customer specifications.  Specify cleaning, material handling, storage procedures, and metrology methods to characterize coating performance within the coating process flow.  Manage coating designs and process recipe portfolio.
  • Transfer knowledge of new coating designs, processes, and product characteristics into manufacturing.  Provide training as needed, create coating recipes, work instructions, process sheets, and define measurement requirements for new products.
  • Interface with Development and Optical Design teams to understand new coating fundamentals and processing requirements.  Comprehension of coating properties impact to system-level performance specifications; analyze technical trade-offs and risks.
  • Utilize in-house developed software to model system-level coating performance; transmission uniformity, polarization and retardance characteristics, coating thickness variation, and perform tolerancing studies and Monte Carlo simulations.
  • Engage with Mechanical Design team to design and fabricate prototype and production optical element tooling, customized coating chamber hardware, and metrology tools.
  • Provide engineering support to Division Engineering Technicians; define test activities, process set-up, hardware evaluation, measurements, and analysis of results.
  • Assist Program Management to estimate costs, labor hours, and manage overall coating aspects of projects.  Provide input for process and product transfer tollgates.  Participate in weekly project meetings; customer and design review meetings; experienced working directly with customers.
  • Support System Test team with customized coatings for test benches and other metrology applications.
  • Utilize Design for Manufacturing principles to determine optimal manufacturing strategies and Manufacturing Engineering Excellence (MEE) practices to solve technical problems and formulate mechanistic understanding of coating processes.
  • Lead projects and activities furthering coating technology and metrology capabilities, and document intellectual property via internal reports, invention disclosures, and patent applications.

Required Education and Experience:

  • B.S. degree (M.S. preferred) in Optical Science / Eng, Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Eng, Ceramic Eng, Mechanical Eng.
  • 5+ years of optical coating design and manufacturing, ideally in the UV and visible wavelength ranges.

Desired Skills and Experience:

  • Coating and optical design / modeling software experience - FilmStar, OptiLayer, WVASE, UniformityPro, Code V.
  • Thin film characterization - spectrophotometer, ellipsometer, SEM, TEM, FTIR, SIMS, MIL spec testing.
  • Electron beam, thermal evaporation, and ion-assisted deposition.  High-vacuum practice; vacuum chamber operation, system control, and support equipment.
  • Experience with optical substrate materials; optics handling, cleaning, and inspecting.
  • Contamination control and cleanroom operations.
  • Experienced specifying capital equipment configuration and acceptance testing.
  • Programming (MATLAB, Python, MS Excel).
  • Excellent mechanical ability.  Experienced with mechanical design and fabrication techniques.  Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings and specifications.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Critical thinking to solve problems quickly and efficiently.  Determine root cause by leveraging Statistical and Hypothesis Tree problem solving methodologies.
  • Ability to interact within a team of multi-disciplinary engineers and at all levels of the organization (Production Technicians to Senior Leadership).

Travel Requirements:

  • Less than 10%.  Typical travel includes training, networking opportunities, customer visits, technical conferences, and benchmarking activities as required.

Hours of work:

  • Typical first shift production hours, M - F, 8AM - 5PM.  Extra and off-hours may be required during times of heightened project activity to meet deliverables.

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $112,902.00 - $155,240.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. 

A job that shapes a life.  

Corning offers you the total package.  

Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

  • Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.
  • As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, we provide a 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
  • Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company-paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.  
  • Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions. 

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at accommodations@corning.com.


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