What companies hire optical engineers?

Companies in aerospace and defense, technology, and manufacturing all hire optical engineers. The largest industry for optical engineers is aerospace and defense, in which companies like L3 Harris and Lockheed Martin hire many optical engineers. In fact, Lockheed Martin is one of the largest employers of optical engineers overall.

How To Become An Optical Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is an optical engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

Daniel Armentrout

As an optical engineer, your job is to research and develop new technologies using the science of light. Your primary duties will depend on your industry of employment. You will design the electronic circuitry and optical components following the necessary specifications. Optical engineers may work with computer chips, microscopes, consumer electronics, or telecommunications lines. You will be responsible for analyzing electro-optical devices and testing the procedures for their components. Job openings can be found in agriculture, aerospace, computers, entertainment, lighting, and medical industries, among others.

The minimum educational requirement for this position is a bachelor's degree in physics or a related discipline. Applicants must possess problem-solving, communication, leadership, and collaboration skills. You must be proficient in optical tools, such as Zemax, Code V, or Trace Pro. You must be able to use various scientific equipment like calorimeters, spectrometers, and wattmeters. Optical engineers earn an average salary of $103,413 yearly. This falls between $72,000 and $148,000.

What general advice would you give to an Optical Engineer?

Daniel Armentrout

Clinical Associate Professor/Associate Chair

The excessive number of baby boomer engineers are retiring at high rates and you as a new engineering graduate are desperately needed to make up for their loss in the workforce. You will face challenges in your career we could not anticipate or prepare you for in your education. You will have to adapt and continue to learn new fields of study which did not exist when you graduated. We have given you tools to learn and you will have to use those tools to remain relevant throughout your career. Find your place as an engineer when you can be effective, help humanity, and have fun. Plot a career path where you can utilize your strengths and challenge your mind to do new things. Contribute to making a better world and you will be able to enjoy immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

ScoreOptical EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $99,814

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.7

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 27.14%

Black or African American 3.56%

Hispanic or Latino 8.63%

Unknown 4.51%

White 55.87%

Gender

female 13.80%

male 86.20%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.8

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.2

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an optical engineer

Explore optical engineer education requirements

Most common optical engineer degrees

Bachelor's

60.2 %

Master's

22.5 %

Doctorate

11.4 %

Start to develop specific optical engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Zemax	11.41%
Data Analysis	7.37%
Optical Components	5.17%
Solidworks	5.13%
CAD	4.00%

Research optical engineer duties and responsibilities

Lead a team of engineers, manage, organize and prioritize multiple projects from design to commissioning and provisioning.
Invent, design and lead the prototyping of a high contrast Fresnel lens/projection screen and its ultra-thin cabinet-less projection display.
Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
Design of complex optical instruments from UV to IR.

Prepare your optical engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your optical engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an optical engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Optical Engineer Resume templates

Build a professional Optical Engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Optical Engineer resume.

Apply for optical engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an optical engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do optical engineers rate their job?

What is an optical engineer and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an Optical Engineer?

Optical Engineer career paths

Key steps to become an optical engineer

Explore optical engineer education requirements

Most common optical engineer degrees

Start to develop specific optical engineer skills

Research optical engineer duties and responsibilities

Prepare your optical engineer resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Optical Engineer Resume templates

Apply for optical engineer jobs

How Did You Land Your First Optical Engineer Job

Average optical engineer salary

How do optical engineers rate their job?

Optical Engineer FAQs

What companies hire optical engineers?

Search for optical engineer jobs