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Principal Product Optical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Atom Computing, Inc.

Principal Optical Engineer

Boulder, CO · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

We are seeking a Principal Optical Engineer. As a technical lead, you will define and implement ... Collaborate with technical leaders across engineering domains to understand key product use cases ...

SpaceX

Principal Optical Engineer (Starfall)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$131K - $169K/yr

PRINCIPAL OPTICAL ENGINEER (STARFALL) SpaceX optical systems require a powerful blend of ... You will set product vision at the system level, lead design of optics, detectors, circuit boards ...

Inuplands

Principal Optical Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

We are seeking an innovative and driven Principal Optical Engineer (PMTS) to lead the charge in ... products based on optic, photonic and laser technologies. • Interacts with device, hardware and ...

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP

$200 - $250/hr

PRINCIPAL OPTICAL ENGINEER (STARFALL) SpaceX optical systems require a powerful blend of ... You will set product vision at the system level, lead design of optics, detectors, circuit boards ...

Atom Computing

Principal Optical Engineer

Boulder, CO · On-site

$160K - $185K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Optical Engineer. As a technical lead, you will define and implement ... Collaborate with technical leaders across engineering domains to understand key product use cases ...

Atom Computing

Principal Optical Engineer

Boulder, CO · On-site

$160K - $185K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Optical Engineer. As a technical lead, you will define and implement ... Collaborate with technical leaders across engineering domains to understand key product use cases ...

SpaceX

Principal Optical Engineer (Starfall)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$131K - $169K/yr

PRINCIPAL OPTICAL ENGINEER (STARFALL) SpaceX optical systems require a powerful blend of ... You will set product vision at the system level, lead design of optics, detectors, circuit boards ...

SpaceX

Principal Optical Engineer (Starfall)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$130K - $169K/yr

PRINCIPAL OPTICAL ENGINEER (STARFALL) SpaceX optical systems require a powerful blend of ... You will set product vision at the system level, lead design of optics, detectors, circuit boards ...

Atom Computing

Principal Optical Engineer

Boulder, CO

$160K - $185K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Optical Engineer. As a technical lead, you will define and implement ... Collaborate with technical leaders across engineering domains to understand key product use cases ...

Draper

Principal Optical Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$95K - $245K/yr

We are seeking an innovative and driven Principal Optical Engineer (PMTS) to lead the charge in ... and product engineering. As a technical leader, you will also build, mentor, and manage diverse ...

Draper

Principal Optical Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$95K - $245K/yr

We are seeking an innovative and driven Principal Optical Engineer (PMTS) to lead the charge in ... Develops, builds and tests systems and products based on optic, photonic and laser technologies.

Draper Labs

Principal Optical Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$95K - $245K/yr

We are seeking an innovative and driven Principal Optical Engineer (PMTS) to lead the charge in ... Develops, builds and tests systems and products based on optic, photonic and laser technologies.

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Principal Product Optical Engineer information

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$26.5K

$141.1K

$197.5K

How much do principal product optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal product optical engineer in the United States is $141,053.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,000.00 and $175,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Product Optical Engineer jobs?

For Principal Product Optical Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Principal Product Optical Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,053 per year, or $67.8 per hour.

Principal Optical Engineer

Boston, MA

QuEra Computing, Inc.
Scientific Research and Development Services • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about QuEra Computing, Inc.external

$180K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design and develop optical modules to support neutral atom quantum computers throughout the full development lifecycle.

  • Lead an interdisciplinary team through the product development process from concept to production.

  • Troubleshoot technical issues at company headquarters and customer locations in coordination with support teams.

Job description

Principal Optical Engineer

The Hardware Engineering Group at QuEra Computing is seeking strong candidates for a Principal Optical Engineer to serve as a senior individual contributor to the company's mission of building state-of-the-art, manufacturable, and deployable neutral atom quantum computers. The Hardware Engineering Group plays a crucial role in accelerating the company's technology leadership and translating the company's scientific breakthroughs into products delivered to customers. To accomplish this mission, we are looking to hire a candidate with graduate-level education in optics, optical engineering, or applied physics with industry experience in an enterprise engineering environment. The ideal candidate will combine a deep, fundamental understanding of several areas of optics, design, and engineering. Although candidates with a Ph.D. in physics may be considered, applicants should ensure they have sufficient professional experience beyond academia in an enterprise engineering environment to establish themselves independently as a Principal-level engineer.

Key Job Responsibilities
  • Optical module design and development
  • Work with physicists to understand requirements and architect optical systems, sub-systems, modules, and components to support QuEra's neutral atom computers through the full development lifecycle (R&D, productization, maintenance, and beyond).
  • Technically lead an interdisciplinary team of engineers (optical, electronic, mechanical, etc.) through the product development process to take an optical module from early phase concept through to implementation and production.
  • Advance state-of-the-art engineering practices at QuEra through independent research, problem-solving, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Coordinate closely with the R&D/science team to enable cutting-edge R&D and translate scientific advances into the next generation of products.
  • Troubleshoot technical issues at company headquarters and off-site installations at customer locations (in coordination with local support team).
Qualifications

Required:

  • Master's degree in optics, optical engineering, applied physics, or a closely related field.
  • 10-15 years non-academic work experience.  Experience at an enterprise scale as well as startup preferred.
  • Deep experience and knowledge of 
    • Free-space optics
    • Lens design
    • Fiber optics
    • Lasers
    • Optical system characterization and testing
    • Opto-mechanics
  • Experience bringing complex optical systems from concept to production
  • Expertise with using Mechanical CAD software (e.g. Inventor, Solidworks), Product Data Management (PDM) software, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software
  • Expertise with Optical simulation software (e.g. Zemax)

Preferred:

  • Experience with quantum computing, especially neutral atom
  • Professional work experience in commercial product development and off-site product deployment at customer premises.

#LI-DA1

The approximate base salary range for this position is $180,000 - $220,000.

We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly.  We determine base compensation decisions on several factors, including as geographic placement, role-specific knowledge, skills, and/or experience.  In addition to our base salary offerings, we also provide equity grants for all new hires.

QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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