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Optical Laboratory Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Photon Queue Inc.

Senior Optical Scientist

Lemont, IL · On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

On-site, fully embedded at Argonne National Laboratory Candidates must have current US work ... Responsibilities Precision Optical Assembly & Metrology * Design, build, and iterate on precision ...

Photon Queue Inc.

Senior Optical Scientist

Lemont, IL · On-site

$130 - $150/hr

On‑site, fully embedded at Argonne National Laboratory Candidates must have current US work ... Responsibilities Precision Optical Assembly & Metrology * Design, build, and iterate on precision ...

Photon Queue Inc.

Senior Optical Scientist

Lemont, IL · On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

On-site, fully embedded at Argonne National Laboratory Candidates must have current US work ... Responsibilities Precision Optical Assembly & Metrology * Design, build, and iterate on precision ...

Photon Queue Inc.

Senior Optical Engineer

Lemont, IL · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

... laboratory research into the best commercial quantum memory platform. With strong institutional ... Role Summary The Senior Optical Engineer owns the optical engine of Photon Queue's quantum memory ...

Photon Queue Inc.

Senior Optical Engineer

Lemont, IL · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

... laboratory research into the best commercial quantum memory platform. With strong institutional ... Role Summary The Senior Optical Engineer owns the optical engine of Photon Queue's quantum memory ...

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All JobsOptical Laboratory JobsOptical Laboratory Jobs in Chicago, IL

Optical Laboratory information

See Chicago, IL salary details

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$57

How much do optical laboratory jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for optical laboratory in Chicago, IL is $22.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $21.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an optical laboratory?

An optical laboratory is a specialized facility where eyeglass lenses and other optical devices are created, customized, and assembled according to prescriptions from eye care professionals. Technicians in optical labs use advanced equipment to cut, grind, polish, and fit lenses into eyeglass frames, ensuring that each pair meets the precise vision needs of the customer. Optical labs may also produce contact lenses, safety glasses, and specialty optics for various industries. The work in an optical laboratory requires attention to detail and knowledge of optical materials and technologies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in an optical laboratory role?

To thrive in an Optical Laboratory role, you need a solid understanding of optics, precision measurement, and lens fabrication, often supported by a high school diploma or associate degree in a related field. Familiarity with lens edging machines, lensometers, and laboratory management software is typically required. Attention to detail, manual dexterity, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for success in this environment. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring the accurate production of optical products and maintaining high standards of quality and customer satisfaction.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in an optical laboratory, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals working in an Optical Laboratory often encounter challenges such as maintaining high precision in lens fabrication, managing a fast-paced workflow with tight deadlines, and ensuring strict adherence to safety and quality standards. Effective communication with team members and attention to detail are crucial for minimizing errors during the lens grinding, coating, and fitting processes. Regular training, organization, and the use of updated technology can help address these challenges and contribute to a productive and error-free work environment.

What is the difference between Optical Laboratory vs Optician?

AspectOptical LaboratoryOptician
CredentialsMay require certifications in lab work or optical technologyOften requires state licensing or certification
Work EnvironmentLaboratory setting, working with lenses and equipmentRetail or clinical setting, interacting with customers
Job FocusFabricating and assembling lenses and optical componentsFitting, adjusting, and dispensing eyewear to patients
Industry UsageManufacturing and production of optical productsCustomer service and eyewear sales

While both roles are essential in the optical industry, an Optical Laboratory primarily focuses on fabricating lenses and optical components in a lab setting, whereas an Optician interacts directly with customers to fit and dispense eyewear. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations within the optical field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Laboratory jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Optical Laboratory jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Optical Laboratory jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Optical Laboratory jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Optical Laboratory jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Optical Laboratory jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Optical Laboratory jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optical Laboratory job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,717 per year, or $22.5 per hour.

Senior Optical Scientist

Photon Queue Inc.

Lemont, IL • On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

Company Overview
Photon Queue builds the world's leading quantum memory devices - systems that store and release single photons. Using a unique free-space storage architecture that achieves kilometer-scale optical path lengths in a compact form factor, we sidestep the fundamental limitations of every competing approach and deliver storage fidelity and efficiency levels that no other technology can match in a device that can actually be deployed and integrated into real quantum systems.
We're solving a critical infrastructure problem for the quantum ecosystem: without a reliable way to synchronize photons across a quantum network or photonic processor, the promise of quantum computing, sensing, and communications stalls. Photon Queue is the synchronization layer that makes progress possible. Our systems are already in use at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Maryland, and demand is growing fast.
Life at Photon Queue
We're an early-stage, fast-growing team of physicists and engineers turning two decades of laboratory research into the best commercial quantum memory platform. With strong institutional backing and commercial traction at leading national labs, we're at an exciting breakout moment - the kind where the work you do today directly shapes the trajectory of the company tomorrow.
There's no corporate bureaucracy here, just sharp people working on hard problems, with direct ownership over what they build and clear visibility into its impact. Every person on the team shapes the product and the company. If you thrive in an environment where your work matters from day one and where espresso, rigor, and curiosity are the culture, you'll fit right in.
Role Summary
The Senior Optical Scientist executes the hands-on R&D work that moves our technology forward, working alongside our CEO. You'll be prototyping novel optical assemblies and validating against expected performance, owning the process end-to-end: sourcing and assembling components, working with vendors, running the experiment, analyzing the data, and reporting what you find. You'll need to exercise real judgment filling in the details and adapting as you learn and get fluent fast with our tools and codebase. You will work at the intersection of optical design, precision experimental physics, and numerical modeling, serving as the technical validation layer for the systems and architectures that will define Photon Queue's next generation of products.
Location: On-site, fully embedded at Argonne National Laboratory
Candidates must have current US work authorization - we are unable to sponsor visas at this time.
This is a fully embedded, on-site role, working day-to-day alongside our CEO at Argonne National Laboratory. We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Photon Queue office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments.
Responsibilities
Precision Optical Assembly & Metrology
  • Design, build, and iterate on precision optical assemblies, from concept through fabrication
  • Work with vendors to procure custom optical components and assemblies
  • Partner with metrology facilities to characterize assemblies (e.g., interferometric measurement of surface figure and roughness)
  • Analyze measurement data and document results across iterations to converge on robust designs

Modeling & Software
  • Contribute to our Python codebase for numerical modeling and optimization of optical systems
  • Build and refine Gaussian beam models to guide design decisions before hardware is built

Vendor & Lab Operations
  • Source and manage vendors for complex optical components
  • Own the logistics of sending assemblies out for measurement and tracking results

Cross-Functional
Work closely with our product development engineers to hand off validated R&D prototypes for productization
Compensation
  • Salary: $130k - $160k
  • Equity: 0.25 - 0.4%

Requirements
Minimum qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in optics, physics, engineering, or a related field
  • 5+ years building and analyzing free-space optical systems
  • Proficiency with Python
  • Proficiency with standard data analysis
  • Precision hands-on alignment experience with kinematic optical systems
Preferred qualifications
  • Master's or PhD in optics, physics, engineering, or a related field
  • Experience with numerical optimization
  • Previous startup experience
  • Expertise in Gaussian beam modeling
  • Experience with electronic control systems
  • Familiarity with optical metrology (e.g., interferometry, surface figure/roughness characterization)

We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all of the qualifications stated above. We're looking for the right candidate with the aptitude and drive to learn and grow with us. That may just be you!
Benefits
  • Health Insurance:
    • Medical - 100% covered for Employee, 80% covered for dependents
    • Dental, Vision and Life - 100% covered for Employee and dependents
  • Flexible time-off
  • 401(k) in the near future
  • Parental leave:
    • 6 weeks of paid Parental Bonding Leave for mothers and fathers of new children welcomed into their family (birthed or adopted).
    • For birthing mothers, an additional 6 weeks of paid Medical Recovery Leave to build back your health and strength before returning to solving the problems of storing photons.

Apply