Optical Scientist Jobs in Minnesota
Optical Scientist jobs in Minnesota draw steady demand from a state with one of the most concentrated optics and photonics industries in the country, anchored in medical devices, defense systems, and precision instrumentation. The Twin Cities metro, Rochester, and Mankato are the primary hiring hubs, with established employers like Honeywell, 3M, and Mayo Clinic driving consistent openings across seniority levels from early-career optical engineers to senior research scientists. The most in-demand specialties include laser systems design, optical metrology, and imaging system development. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Total Vision Eyecare is a fast-growing, modern optometry practice seeking an energetic, detail-driven leader to run the day-to-day operations of our office. This is a high-expectations role for someone who takes pride in excellent work, knows how to motivate and develop a team, and believes in building careers—not just filling shifts. If you're organized, driven, and want to grow people while growing a practice, read on.
What You'll Own
- Manage staff to deliver the highest-quality patient experience across every part of the practice
- Oversee daily collections, billing, and the audit of bills, returns, patient invoices, and RAs
- Run frame buying and optical inventory management
- Supervise and support staff with daily ordering of eyeglasses and contact lenses
- Lead bi-weekly staff meetings, own the annual review process, and hold the team accountable to office policies and SOPs
- Manage staff scheduling and payroll reporting
- Serve as the direct line between the owner/director, optometrists, and the team
- Coordinate with our remote billing company to ensure claims are processed and followed up properly
- Train and develop new opticians, technicians, and front desk staff—and step in to those roles when needed
- Lead new initiatives, including technology rollouts, software integration, and team training
- Oversee HR alongside the ownership team
- Drive process improvement across the practice, including writing and implementing SOPs
What Sets You Apart
This role is built on five things: high expectations, excellent work, the ability to lead and motivate a team, a commitment to teaching and developing people into careers, and being relentlessly organized. Everything below supports those.
- Strong leadership and staff management skills with a natural ability to motivate
- Impeccable attention to detail
- A track record of teaching, coaching, and growing the people you lead
- Calm under pressure—able to diffuse stressful situations
- A quick learner who picks up new concepts and tools fast
- 2+ years leading a team in a medical setting (required); optical sales experience a plus
- Strong sales/selling background
- Familiarity with medical billing, insurance filing, and vision claims
- Fluency with EMRs and a strong technology background
- Positive, bright personality
- College degree strongly preferred but not required
- Experience overseeing an office move into a larger space is a plus
What We Offer
- Health insurance with HSA
- Dental insurance
- Vision coverage and eyewear benefits
- 401k with company match and potential profit share
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Bonus pay
- CE and travel stipend
- And more!
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Education:
- Bachelor's (Preferred)
Experience:
- Medical management: 2 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Rochester, MN 55902 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Rochester, MN 55902: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
Total Vision Eyecare is a fast-growing, modern optometry practice seeking an energetic, detail-driven leader to run the day-to-day operations of our office. This is a high-expectations role for someone who takes pride in excellent work, knows how to motivate and develop a team, and believes in building careers—not just filling shifts. If you're organized, driven, and want to grow people while growing a practice, read on.
What You'll Own
- Manage staff to deliver the highest-quality patient experience across every part of the practice
- Oversee daily collections, billing, and the audit of bills, returns, patient invoices, and RAs
- Run frame buying and optical inventory management
- Supervise and support staff with daily ordering of eyeglasses and contact lenses
- Lead bi-weekly staff meetings, own the annual review process, and hold the team accountable to office policies and SOPs
- Manage staff scheduling and payroll reporting
- Serve as the direct line between the owner/director, optometrists, and the team
- Coordinate with our remote billing company to ensure claims are processed and followed up properly
- Train and develop new opticians, technicians, and front desk staff—and step in to those roles when needed
- Lead new initiatives, including technology rollouts, software integration, and team training
- Oversee HR alongside the ownership team
- Drive process improvement across the practice, including writing and implementing SOPs
What Sets You Apart
This role is built on five things: high expectations, excellent work, the ability to lead and motivate a team, a commitment to teaching and developing people into careers, and being relentlessly organized. Everything below supports those.
- Strong leadership and staff management skills with a natural ability to motivate
- Impeccable attention to detail
- A track record of teaching, coaching, and growing the people you lead
- Calm under pressure—able to diffuse stressful situations
- A quick learner who picks up new concepts and tools fast
- 2+ years leading a team in a medical setting (required); optical sales experience a plus
- Strong sales/selling background
- Familiarity with medical billing, insurance filing, and vision claims
- Fluency with EMRs and a strong technology background
- Positive, bright personality
- College degree strongly preferred but not required
- Experience overseeing an office move into a larger space is a plus
What We Offer
- Health insurance with HSA
- Dental insurance
- Vision coverage and eyewear benefits
- 401k with company match and potential profit share
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Bonus pay
- CE and travel stipend
- And more!
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Education:
- Bachelor's (Preferred)
Experience:
- Medical management: 2 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Rochester, MN 55902 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Rochester, MN 55902: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 11 Optical Scientist Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Optical Scientist JobsOptical Scientist Jobs by City in Minnesota
Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Optical Scientist Job Market in Minnesota
A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Investment & Asset Management
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Minnesota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in optical scientist jobs across Minnesota.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in optics, physics, or optical engineering required
- Hands-on experience with optical design software such as Zemax or CODE V
- Proficiency in laboratory characterization and optical metrology techniques
- Experience with laser systems, imaging systems, or photonic device development
- Ability to hold or obtain a U.S. security clearance for defense-sector positions
- Strong written communication skills for technical documentation and internal reporting
Optical Scientist Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a optical scientist in Minnesota?
Optical scientists in Minnesota typically enter the field with a bachelor's degree in optical science, physics, or electrical engineering, though many positions at medical device and defense employers require a master's or doctoral degree. Minnesota does not issue a state-specific license for optical scientists, so hiring decisions hinge on academic credentials, demonstrated laboratory experience, and portfolio evidence of design or research work. Candidates who complete graduate research at the University of Minnesota or Minnesota State University systems are well positioned with local employer networks.
Which companies hire optical scientists in Minnesota?
Employers hiring optical scientists in Minnesota right now include Target Optical, Benchmark, and Honeywell Aerospace, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Minnesota's deep concentration of medical device and aerospace companies means optical scientists here work across a notably broad range of applied and research-focused environments.
Which Minnesota cities have the most optical scientist jobs?
Rochester, Duluth, and Burnsville account for the largest share of optical scientist openings in Minnesota. The Twin Cities metro drives volume through its dense cluster of medical device headquarters, defense contractors, and technology firms, while Rochester benefits from Mayo Clinic's imaging and instrumentation research programs and any smaller markets reflect nearby anchor employers or university research centers.
Are there remote optical scientist jobs in Minnesota?
Yes, but they're rare. Optical scientist work is predominantly hands-on, requiring access to specialized laboratory equipment, cleanrooms, or prototype systems that cannot be replicated remotely. About 33% of optical scientist openings tied to Minnesota are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those positions tend to cover simulation, modeling, or computational optics tasks where physical lab access is not required day-to-day.
How can I get hired as a optical scientist in Minnesota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a research assistant or associate optical engineer role, which large Minnesota employers like 3M and Honeywell post for candidates with a relevant bachelor's degree and laboratory coursework but limited professional experience. Completing a senior capstone or thesis project involving optical design or photonics substantially strengthens an application. Adjacent roles in quality engineering, test technician positions within medical device companies, or optics-adjacent manufacturing roles at Minnesota precision instrument firms also serve as practical stepping stones into dedicated optical scientist tracks.
Where can I find and apply to optical scientist jobs in Minnesota?
You can find and apply to optical scientist jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to Minnesota employers. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and interests, and apply directly through each listing.
See All 11 Optical Scientist Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Optical Scientist Jobs