Optical Engineer Jobs
Optical Engineer jobs are open from new-grad to principal across defense, semiconductor, medical devices, and consumer electronics, with specializations in lens design, photonics, and laser systems. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 418+ Optical Engineer jobs
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.
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The 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. Learn more about Apple Benefits
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. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
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.
Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
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.
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The 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. Learn more about Apple Benefits
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. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
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.
Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See All 418+ Optical Engineer Jobs
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Find Optical Engineer JobsOptical Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Lockheed Martin23
- Molex22
- Amazon18
- Coherent13
- Meta11
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware18
- Technology & Software12
- Manufacturing9
- Telecommunications9
- Science & Research4
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in optical engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in optical engineering, physics, or electrical engineering
- Proficiency in optical design software such as Zemax OpticStudio or CODE V
- Experience with optical system tolerancing and fabrication drawing generation
- Hands-on lab experience with interferometers, MTF benches, or laser measurement systems
- Familiarity with optical coatings, materials selection, and manufacturing processes
- Ability to obtain or hold an active U.S. security clearance for defense-sector roles
Tips for Your Optical Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to optical domains
Defense optics and medical imaging employers look for different toolsets. Highlight Zemax or CODE V for lens design roles, and shift the focus to fiber alignment or free-space coupling experience when targeting photonics or telecom positions.
List software and lab equipment explicitly
Hiring managers scan for specific tools: Zemax OpticStudio, FRED, LightTools, interferometers, and MTF benches. If these appear in your experience but not by name, you'll be filtered out before a human reads your application.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists optical engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by application area
Filter openings by sector, defense, medical, semiconductor lithography, or consumer AR/VR, rather than by title alone. The core optical skills overlap, but the clearance requirements, tolerancing standards, and deliverable formats differ significantly between industries.
Prepare a design portfolio with tolerancing examples
Bring fabrication drawings or tolerance analyses to interviews, not just ray-trace screenshots. Hiring teams want to see that you can design a system that actually gets built within cost, not only one that simulates cleanly.
Negotiate by citing full compensation components
Optical engineering offers at defense contractors often include clearance sponsorship value and shift differentials that inflate total compensation. Ask for the full breakdown before comparing offers, base salary alone understates the gap between sectors.
Optical Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most optical engineers?
The most active employers for optical engineers right now are Lockheed Martin, Molex, and Amazon, and the most openings are in California, Colorado, and Washington, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors and semiconductor equipment makers consistently post the highest volumes throughout the year.
How many optical engineer jobs are remote?
About 28% of optical engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which is lower than many engineering disciplines because the work is heavily lab- and hardware-dependent. Roles focused on optical system modeling, tolerancing analysis, or technical documentation tend to offer the most scheduling flexibility compared to positions requiring hands-on alignment or test work.
How do you become an optical engineer?
Start with a bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or electrical engineering with strong coursework in electromagnetic theory, geometrical optics, and wave optics. Build hands-on experience through university optical labs, internships, or research positions where you work directly with real optical systems. Learn at least one industry-standard design tool such as Zemax OpticStudio, and develop tolerancing skills because employers expect engineers who can bridge design and fabrication.
How do you get hired as an optical engineer with little experience?
Focus on research assistant or lab technician roles at universities, government labs, or optics companies to build hands-on experience with real hardware. Document any optical design coursework projects with tolerancing outputs or fabrication drawings you can show at interviews. Entry-level positions in optical test and alignment are a common on-ramp because they require less design experience while building the measurement instincts employers value in senior candidates.
What does the optical engineer interview process look like?
Most employers start with a recruiter screen focused on your background and tool familiarity, followed by a technical phone or video interview covering optical design principles, aberration theory, and tolerancing approaches. Final rounds typically include a whiteboard or take-home design exercise where you model a system under real constraints, plus interviews with senior engineers who probe your lab instincts and your ability to communicate trade-offs to non-optical colleagues.
Where can I find and apply to optical engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to optical engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your specialization, whether that's lens design, photonics, laser systems, or optical test, and apply directly to each listing that fits your experience and location preferences.
See All 418+ Optical Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Optical Engineer Jobs