Mid Level Optical Engineer Jobs
Mid level optical engineer jobs go to engineers ready to own optical system design projects end to end, make independent technical decisions, and guide junior team members without constant supervision. Roles are predominantly on-site and hybrid across Electronics & Hardware, Technology & Software, and Manufacturing, with employers like Nokia, Coherent, and Amazon hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 25+ Mid Level Optical Engineer jobs
INTRODUCTION
Kodiak Sciences (Nasdaq: KOD) is advancing vision science by integrating retinal biology, optics, artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and next-generation wearable technologies. Our VETi™ — Visual Engagement Technology and Imager — platform is an AI-enabled wearable system combining advanced LiDAR, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) brain sensors, embedded computing, machine learning, and AR/VR technologies. VETi is being developed for applications in retina care, brain imaging, digital health, identity security, cognitive science, and broader AI-enabled vision technologies.
We are looking for a Senior Optical Engineer to build the optical foundation for Kodiak’s VETi platform, from system concept through validated, production-ready instruments. This role is well suited for an engineer with strong optical design fundamentals who enjoys complex imaging and sensing problems and is excited to build optical systems that enable advanced medical imaging and wearable technologies. We are interested in strong optical engineers who are curious about medical imaging and motivated to work on advanced wearable technologies. This role is onsite in Palo Alto, CA.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the design, simulation, and validation of optical systems for wearable imaging and sensing — from concept through production.
- Design confocal laser scanning, OCT, and related optical subsystems for retinal imaging and diagnostics.
- Model and optimize optical systems in Zemax — including tolerancing, stray-light analysis, and performance budgets.
- Build and characterize optical benchtop prototypes, integrating sources, detectors, lenses, and MEMS scanners.
- Bring up new optical assemblies and debug image-quality issues across optical, mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
- Work with software and ML teams on image-processing algorithms for raw optical data, contributing optical-domain expertise on signal characteristics, calibration, and artifacts.
- Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, machine learning, and clinical teams.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Physics, Optics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of professional optical engineering experience developing complex imaging systems.
- Strong optical design and simulation experience with Zemax.
- Hands-on experience designing confocal laser scanning microscopes, OCT systems, or similar imaging instruments, with a proven track record of building optical devices from prototype through validation.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience programming and scripting (Python, MATLAB) for instrument control, data analysis, and algorithm prototyping.
- Ability to design and model image-processing algorithms for optical and imaging data.
- Experience with AR/VR optics, head-mounted display systems, or near-eye optics.
- Experience with MEMS scanners, adaptive optics, wavefront sensing, or beam-steering technologies.
- Experience with optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) or atomic sensor optics — VCSEL/DBR laser sources, vapor cells, and polarization optics.
- Experience taking optical assemblies from prototype through DFM/DFT to mass production.
- Familiarity with regulated medical-device development (IEC 60601, ISO 13485, FDA) and laser safety standards (IEC 60825), or willingness to learn.
WHY JOIN KODIAK
This role is for engineers who want their optical designs to drive real-world wearable systems — imaging, sensing, and embedded computing — and shape the hardware itself. You will work at the intersection of software, hardware, medical imaging, optics, AR/VR, LiDAR, OCT, OPM, and AI. The platform is novel, the technical challenges are deep, and the work has the potential to shape a new class of wearable vision technologies.
INTRODUCTION
Kodiak Sciences (Nasdaq: KOD) is advancing vision science by integrating retinal biology, optics, artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and next-generation wearable technologies. Our VETi™ — Visual Engagement Technology and Imager — platform is an AI-enabled wearable system combining advanced LiDAR, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) brain sensors, embedded computing, machine learning, and AR/VR technologies. VETi is being developed for applications in retina care, brain imaging, digital health, identity security, cognitive science, and broader AI-enabled vision technologies.
We are looking for a Senior Optical Engineer to build the optical foundation for Kodiak’s VETi platform, from system concept through validated, production-ready instruments. This role is well suited for an engineer with strong optical design fundamentals who enjoys complex imaging and sensing problems and is excited to build optical systems that enable advanced medical imaging and wearable technologies. We are interested in strong optical engineers who are curious about medical imaging and motivated to work on advanced wearable technologies. This role is onsite in Palo Alto, CA.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the design, simulation, and validation of optical systems for wearable imaging and sensing — from concept through production.
- Design confocal laser scanning, OCT, and related optical subsystems for retinal imaging and diagnostics.
- Model and optimize optical systems in Zemax — including tolerancing, stray-light analysis, and performance budgets.
- Build and characterize optical benchtop prototypes, integrating sources, detectors, lenses, and MEMS scanners.
- Bring up new optical assemblies and debug image-quality issues across optical, mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
- Work with software and ML teams on image-processing algorithms for raw optical data, contributing optical-domain expertise on signal characteristics, calibration, and artifacts.
- Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, machine learning, and clinical teams.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Physics, Optics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of professional optical engineering experience developing complex imaging systems.
- Strong optical design and simulation experience with Zemax.
- Hands-on experience designing confocal laser scanning microscopes, OCT systems, or similar imaging instruments, with a proven track record of building optical devices from prototype through validation.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience programming and scripting (Python, MATLAB) for instrument control, data analysis, and algorithm prototyping.
- Ability to design and model image-processing algorithms for optical and imaging data.
- Experience with AR/VR optics, head-mounted display systems, or near-eye optics.
- Experience with MEMS scanners, adaptive optics, wavefront sensing, or beam-steering technologies.
- Experience with optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) or atomic sensor optics — VCSEL/DBR laser sources, vapor cells, and polarization optics.
- Experience taking optical assemblies from prototype through DFM/DFT to mass production.
- Familiarity with regulated medical-device development (IEC 60601, ISO 13485, FDA) and laser safety standards (IEC 60825), or willingness to learn.
WHY JOIN KODIAK
This role is for engineers who want their optical designs to drive real-world wearable systems — imaging, sensing, and embedded computing — and shape the hardware itself. You will work at the intersection of software, hardware, medical imaging, optics, AR/VR, LiDAR, OCT, OPM, and AI. The platform is novel, the technical challenges are deep, and the work has the potential to shape a new class of wearable vision technologies.
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Mid Level Optical Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mid level optical engineer job?
Position your existing experience around ownership and outcomes, not just task completion. Highlight projects where you led the optical design process, resolved tolerancing or alignment challenges independently, or delivered a system through prototype and test. Applications that show depth in a specific area, such as laser design, imaging systems, or fiber optics, stand out more than those listing broad familiarity across tools.
Which companies hire mid level optical engineers?
Companies hiring mid level optical engineers right now include Nokia, Coherent, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a mix of defense contractors, medical device manufacturers, semiconductor equipment firms, and photonics startups that need engineers who can contribute independently on complex optical development programs.
Are there remote mid level optical engineer jobs?
Yes, though most optical engineering work remains tied to labs and hardware. About 6% of mid level optical engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid arrangements more common than fully remote. Roles focused on optical modeling, simulation, or systems analysis are the most likely to offer schedule flexibility compared to hands-on lab or integration positions.
How do I move up to a mid level optical engineer role?
Moving from entry level to mid level optical engineer means building a record of increasing ownership over two to four years. That typically involves going deeper in a core area, such as lens design, wavefront analysis, or illumination engineering, completing projects with less direct supervision, and demonstrating that you can troubleshoot system failures and make design tradeoffs with confidence. Measurable outcomes, such as improved system performance or cost reductions, strengthen the case for promotion or a lateral move into a mid level title.
Which industries hire the most mid level optical engineers?
Mid Level optical engineer roles concentrate in Electronics & Hardware, Technology & Software, and Manufacturing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they require engineers who can apply optical principles to demanding product specifications, whether for precision imaging, high-power laser systems, or miniaturized photonic components, without needing daily guidance on methodology.