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Optical Manager Jobs in Reading, MA (NOW HIRING)

Sr. Optical Engineer

Bedford, MA · On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

Establish and manage optical performance budgets while balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost objectives * Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, manufacturing ...

Sr. Optical Engineer

Bedford, MA · On-site

$130 - $175/hr

Establish and manage optical performance budgets while balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost objectives Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, manufacturing, and ...

Sr. Optical Engineer

Bedford, MA · On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

Establish and manage optical performance budgets while balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost objectives * Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, manufacturing ...

Staff Optical Engineer

Wakefield, MA · On-site

$130K - $165K/yr

The Optikos engineering team is the largest independent optical engineering group in the world, managing all aspects of instrument design, including optics, mechanics, electronics, and software ...

Optical Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

Optical Engineer The Hardware Engineering Group at QuEra Computing is seeking strong candidates for an Optical Engineer to serve as an individual contributor to the company's mission of building ...

The Optikos engineering team is the largest independent optical engineering group in the world, managing all aspects of instrument design, including optics, mechanics, electronics, and software ...

Optical Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

Optical Engineer The Hardware Engineering Group at QuEra Computing is seeking strong candidates for an Optical Engineer to serve as an individual contributor to the company's mission of building ...

Staff Optical Engineer

Wakefield, MA · On-site

$130K - $165K/yr

The Optikos engineering team is the largest independent optical engineering group in the world, managing all aspects of instrument design, including optics, mechanics, electronics, and software ...

Optical Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

Optical Engineer The Hardware Engineering Group at QuEra Computing is seeking strong candidates for an Optical Engineer to serve as an individual contributor to the company's mission of building ...

Lead, Optical Engineering

Wilmington, MA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Demonstrated organizational skills to effectively manage competing tasks with demanding schedules. Team player that is willing to mentor and guide new engineers in the art of optical alignments and ...

Lead, Optical Engineering

Wilmington, MA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Demonstrated organizational skills to effectively manage competing tasks with demanding schedules. Team player that is willing to mentor and guide new engineers in the art of optical alignments and ...

Optical Engineer I

Somerville, MA · On-site

$140K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Optical Engineer I About Diffraqtion At Diffraqtion, we are revolutionizing AI imaging using our proprietary breakthrough quantum technology. We are a DARPA, NASA, and VC-backed startup founded by ...

Optical Engineer I

Somerville, MA · On-site

$140K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Optical Engineer I About Diffraqtion At Diffraqtion, we are revolutionizing AI imaging using our proprietary breakthrough quantum technology. We are a DARPA, NASA, and VC-backed startup founded by ...

Optical Engineer

Maynard, MA · On-site

$136K - $198K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Meet the Team Join our team at Acacia, where we develop advanced optical transceivers for high-speed fiber optic transmission in data centers and telecommunication networks. We're seeking ...

Optical Engineer I

Somerville, MA · On-site

$140K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Optical Engineer I About Diffraqtion At Diffraqtion, we are revolutionizing AI imaging using our proprietary breakthrough quantum technology. We are a DARPA, NASA, and VC-backed startup founded by ...

Showing results 21-40

Optical Manager information

See Reading, MA salary details

$22.7K

$77.3K

$268.5K

How much do optical manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for optical manager in Reading, MA is $77,250.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,800.00 and $80,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an optical manager?

An Optical Manager is a professional who oversees the daily operations of an optical store or department, ensuring high-quality customer service and efficient workflow. Their responsibilities typically include managing staff, handling inventory, assisting with eyewear selection, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. They may also be involved in training employees, coordinating with optometrists, and implementing sales strategies. Effective Optical Managers possess strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills. They play a crucial role in maintaining customer satisfaction and the overall success of the optical business.

What does an optical manager do?

Optical managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an optometrist’s office. As an optical manager, your job duties include a mix of administrative and eye care tasks, such as hiring and training staff, managing inventory, processing insurance and billing, submitting work orders for eyeglasses and contact lenses, adjusting eyeglasses, and maintaining client records. The qualifications to become an optical manager include several years of experience working in the eye care field, strong communication skills, and the ability to multitask. An associate or bachelor’s degree in business or a related field may make you a more valuable candidate for optical manager positions.

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

To thrive as an Optical Manager, you need expertise in optometry practices, optical product knowledge, and management experience, typically supported by a background in opticianry or a related field. Familiarity with practice management software, lens fitting tools, and inventory systems is crucial. Strong leadership, customer service, and problem-solving skills help build effective teams and ensure client satisfaction. These capabilities are vital for delivering quality eye care, optimizing business operations, and maintaining a loyal clientele.

What are some common challenges optical managers face when balancing clinical duties with business operations?

Optical Managers often juggle both patient care and business responsibilities, which can be challenging. Balancing staff scheduling, inventory management, and customer service while ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations requires strong organizational skills. Additionally, Optical Managers frequently work to motivate their team and meet sales targets without compromising the quality of care. Successful managers develop effective communication strategies and prioritize tasks to maintain a smoothly running optical practice.

What is the difference between Optical Manager vs Optical Sales Associate?

AspectOptical ManagerOptical Sales Associate
CredentialsOptical certification, management experienceOptical knowledge, sales skills
Work EnvironmentOptical stores, eyewear clinicsRetail optical outlets, eyewear departments
Employer & IndustryOptical chains, independent optical practicesOptical retail stores, eyewear retailers
Primary ResponsibilitiesOverseeing store operations, staff management, inventory controlAssisting customers, selling eyewear, product knowledge

Optical Managers focus on store operations, staff supervision, and inventory management, requiring management skills and optical certifications. Optical Sales Associates primarily assist customers with eyewear selection and sales, emphasizing customer service and product knowledge. Both roles are essential in optical retail environments but differ in responsibilities and required credentials.

What cities near Reading, MA are hiring for Optical Manager jobs?

Cities near Reading, MA with the most Optical Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Optical Manager job openings in Reading, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $77,250 per year, or $37.1 per hour.

Sr. Optical Engineer

Novanta, Inc.

Bedford, MA • On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing-improving productivity, enhancing people's lives and redefining what's possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications-from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.
Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.
As a Sr. Optical Engineer within Novanta's encoder business, you'll lead the design and development of optical components and systems, focusing on creating innovative rotary and linear encoder solutions based on customer specifications and product management requirements. You will make critical technical decisions to ensure high-quality, high-performance products and provide technical leadership on complex, high-impact projects. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, you will tackle technical challenges and deliver outstanding results. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented, and adept at multitasking, with a strong background in modelling, simulation, prototyping, problem-solving, and design of complex optical systems. You will also serve as a technical consultant and advisor to executives.
This position is part of Novanta's Robotics & Automation business unit. R&A's cohesive vision, superior technologies, consultative team approach and best-in-class reliability make us the trusted partner in solving the most challenging motion control problems.
R&A's precision component and subsystem solutions solve application-specific challenges for technology-driven original equipment manufacturers from a range of markets.
Primary Responsibilities:
  • Lead the optical design and development of rotary and linear encoder products, including diffractive optical elements, photosensors, light sources, and encoder scale designs.
  • Translate system-level requirements into detailed optical specifications, including MTF, resolution, distortion, field of view, and illumination performance.
  • Perform optical modeling, simulation, and analysis using tools such as Zemax to develop and optimize encoder optical architectures.
  • Conduct opto-mechanical tolerance analysis, material selection, and define bonding and assembly processes to ensure robust product performance.
  • Establish and manage optical performance budgets while balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost objectives
  • Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, manufacturing, and quality teams to integrate and validate optical solutions.
  • Work with external suppliers and manufacturing partners to source, qualify, and scale optical components for high-volume production
  • Support product verification, validation, calibration, and field troubleshooting activities to ensure product performance and customer satisfaction.
  • Evaluate custom versus commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) optical components and technologies to optimize product cost and performance.
  • Investigate and resolve technical challenges encountered during product development, manufacturing, and field operation using structured engineering and root-cause analysis methods.
  • Contribute to project execution by supporting requirements definition, deliverables planning, schedules, budgets, and technical risk management.

Required Experience,
Education, Skills and
Competencies
  • Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Physics or equivalent field with at least 8 years of related experience.
  • Preferred: Master's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Physics or equivalent field with 6+ years of prior relevant experience.
  • Solid understanding of diffractive optic
  • Strong proficiency with optical design tools ( Zemax , Code V, or similar)
  • Hands-on lab experience in optical testing, metrology and characterization
  • Hands-on experience with complex optical assembly development. Lab and prototype development experience
  • Experience working with optics vendors and manufacturing processes
  • Capable of independent and team-based work, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, and MATLAB.
  • Able to collaborate effectively with clients, stakeholders, and management, while mentoring less experienced team members.

  • The salary for this role will range from $130,000 to $175,000 annually based on full-time employment. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to location, relevant skills, training, experience, education, etc.

  • Certain roles may be eligible for performance-based incentive compensation and/or long-term incentives. Incentives could be discretionary or non-discretionary depending on the plan.

  • Novanta supports all aspects of your life's needs. This position provides a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits to make your quality of life better.

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.
Please call +1 781-266-5700 if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.