H-1B Visa Optical Engineer Jobs
Optical Engineer jobs with H-1B visa sponsorship sit squarely in specialty occupation territory: the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in optical engineering, physics, or a closely related field. Employers filing an LCA with DOL must certify a prevailing wage for your specific worksite, so location shapes both your offer and your petition.
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Get Access To All JobsSUMMARY
Apple is where individual imaginations gather together, committing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or Apple Store experience we deliver is the result of us making each other’s ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It’s the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you’ll do more than join something — you’ll add something.
DESCRIPTION
The Camera Hardware Engineering group is responsible for all research, design, development, test and qualification of camera hardware for Apple products. The team is looking for an Optical Engineer to work on the development and system-level integration of new illumination components such as the camera flash.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or relevant field of study.
- Experience in LightTools, SPEOS, Zemax non-sequential, RSoft, or Lumerical.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s or PhD degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or relevant field of study with 3 years of relevant industry experience.
- Experience in optical design applied to illumination systems such as general lighting, automotive lighting, displays, cameras, or optical metrology.
- Ability to write scripts to automate optical simulations and data analysis (Python, Matlab, C#, C++, VB).
- Experience using AI coding agents (Claude Code, MCP servers, agent skills) along optical software (LightTools, CODE V, Zemax) to automate simulation and analysis work.
- Ability to verify AI-generated scripts and results against optics first-principles. Build and validate tools and workflows for use across the larger team.
- Experience with optical characterization equipment such as spectrophotometers and scatterometers.
- Understanding of LEDs and solid-state lighting.
- Familiarity with CAD software such as NX or SolidWorks.
- Ability to interface with cross-functional teams to support integration of illumination components into systems and assess feasibility of new optical concepts.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
Apple is where individual imaginations gather together, committing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or Apple Store experience we deliver is the result of us making each other’s ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It’s the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you’ll do more than join something — you’ll add something.
DESCRIPTION
The Camera Hardware Engineering group is responsible for all research, design, development, test and qualification of camera hardware for Apple products. The team is looking for an Optical Engineer to work on the development and system-level integration of new illumination components such as the camera flash.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or relevant field of study.
- Experience in LightTools, SPEOS, Zemax non-sequential, RSoft, or Lumerical.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s or PhD degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or relevant field of study with 3 years of relevant industry experience.
- Experience in optical design applied to illumination systems such as general lighting, automotive lighting, displays, cameras, or optical metrology.
- Ability to write scripts to automate optical simulations and data analysis (Python, Matlab, C#, C++, VB).
- Experience using AI coding agents (Claude Code, MCP servers, agent skills) along optical software (LightTools, CODE V, Zemax) to automate simulation and analysis work.
- Ability to verify AI-generated scripts and results against optics first-principles. Build and validate tools and workflows for use across the larger team.
- Experience with optical characterization equipment such as spectrophotometers and scatterometers.
- Understanding of LEDs and solid-state lighting.
- Familiarity with CAD software such as NX or SolidWorks.
- Ability to interface with cross-functional teams to support integration of illumination components into systems and assess feasibility of new optical concepts.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See all 70+ H-1B Visa Optical Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Optical Engineer
Align your degree to optical engineering
USCIS evaluates whether your degree field directly relates to optics, photonics, or optical systems. A degree in physics, electrical engineering, or materials science can qualify if your coursework or transcript shows concentration in optical principles. Document that alignment before your employer files.
Look up prevailing wages by worksite
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your exact worksite location, not company headquarters. Run your SOC code through the OFLC Wage Search for each city where you'd actually work before evaluating any offer.
Target employers with active LCA filing history
Find optical and photonics employers who have already certified LCAs for engineering roles by searching Migrate Mate, which surfaces verified H-1B sponsorship history by role and location so you can focus applications on proven sponsors.
Verify each worksite needs its own LCA
If your role involves work at a client site, government lab, or secondary facility, your employer must file a separate certified LCA for each location before you work there. Confirm this with your employer's immigration counsel before accepting a role with multiple worksites.
Request premium processing before your start date
USCIS premium processing brings adjudication to 15 business days. For optical engineering roles in defense, aerospace, or semiconductor sectors with firm project start dates, ask your employer to include premium processing in the I-129 filing from the start.
Use O*NET to build your specialty occupation case
The O*NET occupation profile for optical engineers lists the specific knowledge domains and education requirements USCIS adjudicators reference. Pull the occupational tasks and requirements directly from O*NET to support your employer's specialty occupation argument in the petition.
H-1B Visa Optical Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Optical Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Optical engineering roles typically qualify as specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, photonics, or a closely related technical field. USCIS looks at whether the position normally requires that specific degree. Employers document this through job duties, internal job descriptions, and industry standards, often referencing O*NET to demonstrate the degree requirement is standard across the field.
Which employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas for Optical Engineers?
Defense contractors, semiconductor manufacturers, medical device companies, and laser technology firms are among the most active sponsors for optical engineering roles. These employers regularly file LCAs with DOL for photonics, optical systems, and imaging positions. You can search verified sponsors with active H-1B filing history on Migrate Mate, filtered by role type and location.
How does the prevailing wage requirement affect an Optical Engineer offer?
DOL requires your employer to certify through the LCA that your offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the optical engineering role at your specific worksite. The wage level, from Level I through Level IV, depends on your experience and job complexity. Roles in high-cost metros like San Jose or Boston will carry higher prevailing wage floors than the same title in a smaller market.
Can an Optical Engineer work at multiple sites under one H-1B petition?
No. Each worksite where you perform H-1B work requires its own certified LCA. If your role involves work at a client facility, a government research lab, or a secondary company location, your employer must file a separate LCA for each site before you begin work there. Failing to do so puts both your status and your employer's compliance record at risk.
How long does H-1B status last for an Optical Engineer?
H-1B status is initially granted for up to three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years total. Extensions beyond six years are possible only if your employer has an approved I-140 petition or a PERM labor certification that has been pending for at least 365 days. After six years, you generally must leave the U.S. and wait before reapplying unless a green card filing is already in progress.