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Virtual Optical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Optical Network Engineer III

Charlotte, NC · On-site

$126K - $163K/yr

Job#: 3043766 Optical Network Engineer III Location: Remote based in Charlotte, NC Role Overview We ... Everforth Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.

Eng Sr Prin - Optical

Austin, TX · On-site

$127K - $165K/yr

... Engineering Hiring Event. While we encourage all interested professionals to apply, please note ... For candidates not local to the southern NH area, virtual interviews will be accommodated. BAE ...

Senior Network Engineer (L3+) - Datacenter Deployment & Operations (CCNP) Role Overview We are ... StackWise / StackWise Virtual Optical networking & fiber troubleshooting DWDM (preferred ...

Take ownership of a "virtual beamline" digital twin of our laser architecture * Work with other teams (Theory/Computation, Software Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.) and ...

Take ownership of a "virtual beamline" digital twin of our laser architecture * Work with other teams (Theory/Computation, Software Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.) and ...

Take ownership of a "virtual beamline" digital twin of our laser architecture * Work with other teams (Theory/Computation, Software Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.) and ...

Network Engineer

Sandston, VA · On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

Senior Network Engineer (L3+) - Datacenter Deployment & Operations (CCNP) Role Overview We are ... StackWise / StackWise Virtual Optical networking & fiber troubleshooting DWDM (preferred ...

Showing results 21-40

Virtual Optical Engineer information

See salary details

$83K

$143.6K

$168.5K

How much do virtual optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for virtual optical engineer in the United States is $143,611.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,000.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a virtual optical engineer?

A Virtual Optical Engineer is a professional who designs, simulates, and analyzes optical systems—such as lenses, lasers, or fiber optics—using computer-aided design (CAD) and simulation software, often working remotely. They collaborate with teams to develop and optimize optical components for industries like telecommunications, medical devices, and consumer electronics. Their work may involve using specialized tools to model light propagation, assess system performance, and troubleshoot design issues before physical prototypes are built.

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

To thrive as a Virtual Optical Engineer, you need a strong background in optics, photonics, and physics, typically supported by a degree in optical engineering or a related field. Proficiency in simulation tools such as Zemax, LightTools, or CODE V, and familiarity with CAD software are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills are vital soft skills for collaborating on complex projects. These abilities enable the design and optimization of advanced optical systems in virtual environments, ensuring innovation and precision in product development.

What are some common challenges faced by virtual optical engineers when collaborating with remote teams?

Virtual Optical Engineers often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams located in different regions, which can introduce challenges such as coordinating across time zones and ensuring clear communication about technical specifications. Working remotely requires strong documentation skills and the ability to use simulation and collaboration tools effectively to share design files, test results, and feedback in real time. Proactive communication and regular virtual meetings help to bridge gaps, but it's important to be adaptable to diverse working styles and maintain detailed records to ensure everyone stays aligned on project goals.

What is the difference between Virtual Optical Engineer vs Optical Engineer?

AspectVirtual Optical EngineerOptical Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in optics, physics, or engineering; certifications like Optics CertificationBachelor's or higher in optics, physics, or engineering; similar certifications
Work EnvironmentRemote or virtual settings, collaborating with teams onlineOn-site labs, manufacturing facilities, or office environments
Industry UsageTechnology companies, research firms, remote consultingManufacturing, R&D labs, aerospace, telecommunications
Search & Comparison IntentLooking for remote optical engineering roles or virtual positionsSeeking traditional, on-site optical engineering jobs

While both Virtual Optical Engineers and Optical Engineers require similar educational backgrounds and certifications, Virtual Optical Engineers primarily work remotely, collaborating online, whereas Optical Engineers often work on-site in labs or manufacturing settings. The choice depends on your preferred work environment and industry focus.

More about Virtual Optical Engineer jobs

What cities are hiring for Virtual Optical Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Virtual Optical Engineer job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Engineer jobs?

The most popular types of Optical Engineer jobs are:

What states have the most Virtual Optical Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Virtual Optical Engineer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Virtual Optical Engineer jobs?

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

Infographic showing various Virtual Optical Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 34% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 65% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,611 per year, or $69 per hour.

IP and Optical Test Engineers

Fort George G Meade, MD • On-site, Remote

By Light Professional IT Services LLC
IT Services • 1 - 5K employees

$143K - $186K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

Company Overview

By Light Professional IT Services LLC readies warfighters and federal agencies with technology and systems engineered to connect, protect, and prepare individuals and teams for whatever comes next. Headquartered in McLean, VA, By Light supports defense, civilian, and commercial IT customers worldwide. 

Position Overview

By Light is seeking IP and Optical Network Test Engineers to support a future contract award on the SETI Small Business contract vehicle.

Our IP and Optical Network Engineers assess, test, and recommend solutions and technologies to improve all aspects of DISN Transport systems.  These technologies include network devices (Optical Transport Systems, Optical Line Systems, Optical Transponders, routers, switches, firewalls, and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), and services Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA), Access Control List (ACL), secure remote access (i.e Secure shell, Secure VPN, IPSec), and IPv6 capable devices.

Network Test Engineers are responsible for all DISN aspects regarding the design review/recommendation, lab testing, evaluation/certification, and implementation/deployment as well as provide Tier 3 support for the DoD's NIPRNet and SIPRNet backbone networks. 

Responsibilities
  • Provide technical expertise in design review, lab testing & test report, implementation plan and deployment of new advanced large-scale complex DoD networks.  
  • Implement MPLS services offerings on the DISN network.  MPLS services include L3VPN, L2VPN, VPLS (Virtual Private LAN service) and CsC (Carrier Supporting Carrier).  Platforms tested include Juniper MX Series, Cisco ASR Series routers.
  • Provide expertise in order to certify and support Optical systems to include optical switches, amplifiers, regenerators, Optical Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), Optical Transport Networking (OTN), Optical Transport Unit (OTU) frames, OTN-based backbones, optical light paths, optical spectrum sharing, optical virtual private networks (O-VPNs), wavelength-based private services, Packet-Optical Transport System (P-OTS), Ethernet, Flexible Ethernet (FlexE), Carrier Ethernet.
  • Provide technical security expertise in design, test, evaluation and deployment of advanced large-scale complex DoD networks. Review security requirements set by DoD agencies for the NIPRNET/SIPRNET network protection; Assess and analyze current NIPRNET/SIPRNET network architecture; Propose and analyze potential solutions. 
  • Conducting audits, risk assessment, threat analysis, contingency planning and implementing security standards and methods.
  • Reviews security threats to the current DoD NIPRNet/Internet gateway IA infrastructure, architecture, and technology and determines/implements effective countermeasures IAW established policies/regulations/directives.
  • Delivers Router and Firewall Test Plans, Test Reports, as well as Implementation Plans to provide direction for deployment in the production environment. Prepare field recommendations and Configuration Guides.
  • Provide Tier III engineering support to field operations personnel and deliver Field Support Lessons Learned reports.
  • Conduct market research to find products to meet requirements.
Required Experience/Qualifications
  • BS in Networking, Telecommunications, or related area required.
  • DoD 8570-01-M IAT Level I or higher to include one of the following:  A+ CE, CCNA-Security, CND, Network+ CE, SSCP Security+, GSEC, SCNP, SSCP, or CISSP.
  • Extensive experience in IP or Optical Networking.
  • Expertise in large-scale IP/Optical & Testing with backbone routers running ISIS, BGP/MP-BGP (multi AS), MPLS routing protocols, switches and testing gear including traffic generators from IXIA and Spirent Test Center
Preferred Experience/Qualifications
  • Professional Networking Certifications such as Cisco CCNA, Juniper JNCIE or Ciena OC-P are highly preferred.
  • Hardware certification testing, JUNOS/IOS-XR/Ciena operating system regression testing.
  • DISN IP or Optical Design Experience
  • Network test equipment/Traffic Generator such as IXIA and Spirent Test Center.
  • Firewalls (Juniper/Netscreen, Cisco ASA/PIX, CyberGuard, SideWinder), VPN products (IPSec, SSL VPN).
  • IDS/IPS (Arbor Peakflow DoS & Traffic, Top Layer, ForeScout).
  • F5 Big-IP load balancer, BlueCoat Web Proxy.
  • Unix (SUN/HP/BSD) Servers/Workstations, Linux, PC Servers/Workstations
  • VMWare ESXi server.
  • JunOS, Cisco IOS & IOS-XR, UNIX (Sun Solaris, BSD, HPUX, SCO), VMWare, Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft OS Servers and Workstations.
  • Certificate Authority Server, ACE/SecureID Server, TACACS+, RADIUS, MS Exchange, Sendmail, Apache web server, PKI, WINS, DHCP, DNS, FTP/SFTP/TFTP, SSH, NTP, Netflow/Cflowd servers.
  • Possess excellent interpersonal communication skills with the ability to interact with management and staff at all levels.
  • Candidate should also have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Salary Range

Based on the roles, responsibilities, and requirements, the projected pay range for this position is:  $100,000 - $200,000.

The annual base salary provided is a guideline for this position and is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. When extending an offer, By Light also considers other variables such as (but not limited to) work experience, education, training, skill set, internal peer equity, clearance level, and market conditions. In addition, By Light provides an extensive selection of benefits and offerings to our employees.

Employment Type: OTHER