Photonics Engineer Jobs
Photonics Engineer jobs are open across defense, semiconductor, medical devices, telecommunications, and research institutions, from new-grad to principal and staff levels, with specializations in laser design, fiber optics, and optical systems integration. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 81+ Photonics Engineer jobs
At Thorlabs, we design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabs contributes to cutting-edge research and real-world innovation.
Whether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. We know every employee brings unique talents and perspectives that fuel our success, and we seek driven individuals who are excited to make an impact in a fun, fast-moving culture.
The Ultrafast Opto-electronics group (UFO), located in Ann Arbor, MI, is a business unit of Thorlabs chartered to develop high-speed photonic components and instrumentation. Photonics Engineers conceptualize, design, test, and release opto-electronic (OE) and photonic products for the UFO group.
- Assist in OE/photonic design projects under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Prototype and test OE/photonic circuits of varying complexity under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Verify OE/photonic product specifications via testing and statistical analysis.
- Interact with suppliers to identify, specify & procure external OE/photonic components.
- Support the transfer of OE/photonic products from development to production under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Write assembly & test procedures for new OE/photonic products and processes.
- Provide training to manufacturing staff on assembly and test procedures for OE/photonic products.
- Support troubleshooting and resolution of OE/photonic system issues with oversight from senior engineering staff.
- Assist with resolution of end-of-life OE/photonic component issues under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Support the continuous improvement of manufacturing and functional test processes for OE/photonic products under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Evaluate non-conformance issues in OE/photonic products under the guidance of senior engineering staff to determine root causes.
- Interact with other Thorlabs business units for product development.
- Provide technical support to Sales and Marketing teams.
Requirements
Experience:
- Entry Level to 4 years of experience in OE/photonic product design, development, and implementation.
Education:
- BS (or higher) in Photonics, Optics, Physics, EE, or related field.
Specialized Knowledge and Skills:
- Must have basic understanding of (or limited experience with) OE/photonic device development.
- Must have basic understanding of (or limited experience with) ultra-fast time & high frequency domain testing (e.g. 100GHz) using VNAs, Spectrum Analyzers, TDRs, Sampling Oscilloscope, etc.
- Must have basic understanding of (or limited experience with) optical/photonics design software (e.g. Lumerical/RSoft, Zemax, QUADOA).
- Must have basic understanding of (or limited experience with) data handling and analysis tools (e.g. R, MATLAB, Python).
- Must have the ability to design and create custom test and data collection systems (e.g. Python, MATLAB, LabView).
- Must have strong problem solving and design of experiment (DOE) skills.
- Must be able to work in an OE laboratory environment with lasers, optical fibers, high-precision motorized stages, microscopes, and various pieces of micro-assembly equipment.
- Basic understanding of the design fundamentals of unamplified and amplified photodetector devices is a plus.
- Basic understanding of high-speed optical switching, modulation, and their enabling technologies (e.g. - electro-optic, electro-absorption, acousto optic, gain-switching, Q-switching) is a plus.
- Proficiency with optical measurement techniques (e.g. Optical Spectrometers, Beam Profilers, and Optical Power Meters) is preferred.
- Must be proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
- Must be detail oriented, highly organized, and able to document work.
- Must have excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must be comfortable in a fast-paced, start-up type environment requiring a self-motivated individual.
This is an in-office position located in Ann Arbor, MI. Occasional travel (less than 20%) may be required
The estimated pay range for this role is $84,000 - $ 100,000 annually
Thorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identify or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.
Benefits
Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.
At Thorlabs, we design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabs contributes to cutting-edge research and real-world innovation.
Whether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. We know every employee brings unique talents and perspectives that fuel our success, and we seek driven individuals who are excited to make an impact in a fun, fast-moving culture.
The Ultrafast Opto-electronics group (UFO), located in Ann Arbor, MI, is a business unit of Thorlabs chartered to develop high-speed photonic components and instrumentation. Photonics Engineers conceptualize, design, test, and release opto-electronic (OE) and photonic products for the UFO group.
- Assist in OE/photonic design projects under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Prototype and test OE/photonic circuits of varying complexity under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Verify OE/photonic product specifications via testing and statistical analysis.
- Interact with suppliers to identify, specify & procure external OE/photonic components.
- Support the transfer of OE/photonic products from development to production under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Write assembly & test procedures for new OE/photonic products and processes.
- Provide training to manufacturing staff on assembly and test procedures for OE/photonic products.
- Support troubleshooting and resolution of OE/photonic system issues with oversight from senior engineering staff.
- Assist with resolution of end-of-life OE/photonic component issues under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Support the continuous improvement of manufacturing and functional test processes for OE/photonic products under guidance from senior engineering staff.
- Evaluate non-conformance issues in OE/photonic products under the guidance of senior engineering staff to determine root causes.
- Interact with other Thorlabs business units for product development.
- Provide technical support to Sales and Marketing teams.
Requirements
Experience:
- Entry Level to 4 years of experience in OE/photonic product design, development, and implementation.
Education:
- BS (or higher) in Photonics, Optics, Physics, EE, or related field.
Specialized Knowledge and Skills:
- Must have basic understanding of (or limited experience with) OE/photonic device development.
- Must have basic understanding of (or limited experience with) ultra-fast time & high frequency domain testing (e.g. 100GHz) using VNAs, Spectrum Analyzers, TDRs, Sampling Oscilloscope, etc.
- Must have basic understanding of (or limited experience with) optical/photonics design software (e.g. Lumerical/RSoft, Zemax, QUADOA).
- Must have basic understanding of (or limited experience with) data handling and analysis tools (e.g. R, MATLAB, Python).
- Must have the ability to design and create custom test and data collection systems (e.g. Python, MATLAB, LabView).
- Must have strong problem solving and design of experiment (DOE) skills.
- Must be able to work in an OE laboratory environment with lasers, optical fibers, high-precision motorized stages, microscopes, and various pieces of micro-assembly equipment.
- Basic understanding of the design fundamentals of unamplified and amplified photodetector devices is a plus.
- Basic understanding of high-speed optical switching, modulation, and their enabling technologies (e.g. - electro-optic, electro-absorption, acousto optic, gain-switching, Q-switching) is a plus.
- Proficiency with optical measurement techniques (e.g. Optical Spectrometers, Beam Profilers, and Optical Power Meters) is preferred.
- Must be proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
- Must be detail oriented, highly organized, and able to document work.
- Must have excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must be comfortable in a fast-paced, start-up type environment requiring a self-motivated individual.
This is an in-office position located in Ann Arbor, MI. Occasional travel (less than 20%) may be required
The estimated pay range for this role is $84,000 - $ 100,000 annually
Thorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identify or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.
Benefits
Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.
Photonics Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Photonics Engineer JobsPhotonics Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware12
- Manufacturing6
- Technology & Software6
- Telecommunications5
- Medical Devices1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in photonics engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in physics, electrical engineering, or optical engineering
- Hands-on experience with laser systems, fiber optics, or optical component design
- Proficiency in optical design software such as Zemax OpticStudio or COMSOL Multiphysics
- Experience with optical bench setup, alignment, and characterization in a lab environment
- Familiarity with photonic integrated circuits, semiconductor fabrication, or cleanroom processes
- Ability to obtain or active possession of a U.S. security clearance for defense-related roles
Tips for Your Photonics Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to optical systems
List the specific laser platforms, optical bench tools, and simulation software you've used, such as Zemax, COMSOL, or VirtualLab. Hiring managers in photonics scan for these names fast, and a generic engineering resume will get filtered out before a human reads it.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists photonics engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight your cleanroom and lab experience
Many photonics roles require hands-on fabrication or characterization work. Specify the processes you've run, such as lithography, thin-film deposition, or interferometric testing, because those details separate candidates who've done the work from those who've only studied it.
Target postings by application area
Defense and aerospace roles often require security clearance eligibility, while medical device positions emphasize FDA-regulated environments. Filter your search by industry vertical so you're only spending time on openings where your background is a direct match.
Prepare for a technical design review interview
Photonics interviews frequently include a walkthrough of a prior design or experiment, not just whiteboard questions. Rehearse explaining your optical system choices, tradeoffs you made, and how you validated performance against spec before you walk in.
Negotiate using clearance and IP experience
Active security clearances and documented IP contributions, such as patents or invention disclosures, are concrete leverage points in photonics compensation conversations. Know what you hold before your offer call so you can reference it specifically rather than making a general ask.
Photonics Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most photonics engineers?
The companies hiring the most photonics engineers right now include Coherent, Nokia, and GlobalFoundries, with the largest share of openings in California, New York, and Colorado, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors, semiconductor manufacturers, and medical device companies consistently represent the largest share of active postings.
How many photonics engineer jobs are remote?
About 51% of photonics engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which is lower than most engineering disciplines because much of the work requires lab access or cleanroom equipment. Sub-areas like optical system modeling, simulation, and software-defined photonics integration tend to have the highest share of remote-eligible roles.
How do you become a photonics engineer?
Most photonics engineers start with a bachelor's degree in physics, optical engineering, or electrical engineering, then build hands-on lab experience through research positions, co-ops, or internships focused on lasers, fiber systems, or imaging. A master's degree strengthens candidates for R&D and senior design roles. Developing proficiency in optical simulation tools and gaining exposure to a specific application area, such as defense or medical devices, sharpens your fit for industry postings.
Can you get a photonics engineer job with little experience?
Entry-level photonics engineer roles do exist, and employers filling them look for strong academic lab work, senior capstone projects involving optical systems, or undergraduate research with published or presented results. Internships at national labs or optics-focused companies carry significant weight. Demonstrating hands-on alignment, characterization, or fabrication skills, even from coursework, closes much of the experience gap that a short resume creates.
What does the photonics engineer interview process look like?
Most photonics engineer interviews include an initial recruiter or hiring manager screen, a technical phone or video round covering optical design principles and relevant tools, and then an onsite or virtual panel where you walk through a past project in detail. Some employers add a design exercise or ask you to interpret experimental data on the spot. References and, for defense roles, a preliminary clearance discussion often come at the offer stage.
Where can I find and apply to photonics engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to photonics engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and experience level, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 81 Photonics Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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