Photonics Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
California is one of the most active states for photonics engineer visa sponsorship, driven by defense contractors, semiconductor firms, and laser technology companies concentrated in Silicon Valley, San Diego, and the Los Angeles basin. Major employers including II-VI Incorporated, Lumentum, Coherent, and UCSB-affiliated startups regularly file Labor Condition Applications for photonics roles.
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Get Access To All JobsImagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job, and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, smart people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple hardware products. The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices, strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Join us to help deliver the next groundbreaking Apple product! Do you love working on challenges that no one has solved yet? As a member of our dynamic group, you will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to craft upcoming products that will delight and inspire millions of Apple’s customers every single day!
Description
We are seeking a self-motivated engineer to join Apple and support the development of a new photonic sensor concept. You will work with cross-functional teams and develop highly automated PDK infrastructures/software to bridge the gap between different functions in this multidisciplinary group. You will take advantage of your technical breadth as well as your depth of experience to explore new strategies in PDK libraries, circuit simulations, stray light analysis, verifications, and related workflows.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
B.Sc. in Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent fields
Experience coding with object-oriented programming languages (Python, Matlab, Java, etc.)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
10+ years of relevant industry experience
Master’s or PhD degree in Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent fields
Proven track record of designing and building automated infrastructures
Experience with layout, verification, and circuit simulations
Experience with photonics modeling and simulation
Understanding of semiconductor physics, fabrication processes, and tapeout flows.
PAY & BENEFITS
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 $181,100 and $272,100, 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.
Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job, and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, smart people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple hardware products. The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices, strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Join us to help deliver the next groundbreaking Apple product! Do you love working on challenges that no one has solved yet? As a member of our dynamic group, you will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to craft upcoming products that will delight and inspire millions of Apple’s customers every single day!
Description
We are seeking a self-motivated engineer to join Apple and support the development of a new photonic sensor concept. You will work with cross-functional teams and develop highly automated PDK infrastructures/software to bridge the gap between different functions in this multidisciplinary group. You will take advantage of your technical breadth as well as your depth of experience to explore new strategies in PDK libraries, circuit simulations, stray light analysis, verifications, and related workflows.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
B.Sc. in Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent fields
Experience coding with object-oriented programming languages (Python, Matlab, Java, etc.)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
10+ years of relevant industry experience
Master’s or PhD degree in Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent fields
Proven track record of designing and building automated infrastructures
Experience with layout, verification, and circuit simulations
Experience with photonics modeling and simulation
Understanding of semiconductor physics, fabrication processes, and tapeout flows.
PAY & BENEFITS
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 $181,100 and $272,100, 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.
Photonics Engineer Job Roles in California
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Search Photonics Engineer Jobs in CaliforniaPhotonics Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for photonics engineers in California?
California-based employers with consistent H-1B visa filing histories for photonics roles include Lumentum, II-VI Incorporated (now Coherent Corp.), Viavi Solutions, Broadcom, and Intel. Defense contractors such as Raytheon and Northrop Grumman also sponsor in Southern California, though some positions require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency due to security clearance requirements. Sponsorship patterns vary by product line and project type.
Which visa types are most common for photonics engineer roles in California?
The H-1B is the most frequently used visa for photonics engineers in California, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in photonics, optical engineering, electrical engineering, or physics. O-1A visas are an option for engineers with demonstrated extraordinary ability. Some employers also support EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship after initial H-1B approval. USCIS has detailed criteria for each category.
Which cities in California have the most photonics engineer sponsorship jobs?
San Jose and the broader Silicon Valley corridor lead in photonics engineering sponsorship activity, anchored by semiconductor and fiber optics companies. San Diego has a strong cluster tied to defense photonics, LIDAR, and biophotonics firms. Los Angeles and the South Bay area host aerospace and defense employers. Santa Barbara benefits from proximity to UC Santa Barbara, a nationally recognized photonics research university that feeds local industry hiring.
How to find photonics engineer visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lists photonics engineer roles in California filtered by visa sponsorship history, drawing on DOL Labor Condition Application data to surface employers who have actively sponsored international engineers. You can search by city, employer, or visa type to narrow results to active California opportunities. This makes it faster to identify companies already familiar with the H-1B process for photonics and optical engineering positions specifically.
What state-specific factors should photonics engineers know about sponsorship in California?
California employers must post LCA public access files and meet DOL prevailing wage requirements specific to the metropolitan statistical area where the role is located, which means wage levels in San Jose or San Diego may differ significantly from national averages. Engineers can check location-specific prevailing wages using the OFLC Wage Search tool. California also has state labor laws that interact with H-1B employment terms, so employers and candidates should be aware of both federal and state obligations.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored photonics engineer jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.