Optical Scientist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Optical scientists developing laser systems, photonic devices, and advanced imaging technology qualify for H-1B, O-1, and EB-2 visa sponsorship. This specialized role requires deep expertise in optics, photonics, or related physics fields, making it attractive to employers seeking R&D talent for defense, telecommunications, and medical device companies. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation:
Shoreview, MN, US, 55126
Who Are We?
Are you someone that likes new challenges? Do you want to explore new technologies and help solve some of the world’s most difficult problems, like air quality and safety solutions? At TSI, these opportunities are real. Our engineers work with industry-leading experts both internally and externally. We encourage and enable our engineers to get into the field with customers to better understand their issues and solve their problems. At TSI, you make a difference – every day.
Staff Optical Scientist at TSI
The primary role of the Staff Optical Scientist will be to lead the modeling, design, and development of laser and optical assemblies for use in various measurement technologies. This role will serve as a subject matter expert in optics throughout the organization and will create test plans, author test reports, work with technicians to perform tests, and document the test results. This role will have contact with systems engineers, technicians, design engineers, project management, metrology, quality, marketing, sales, customers, and tech support.
The Staff Optical Scientist will require a strong working knowledge of mathematical modeling tools, electronics, electro-optics, laser physics, light scattering theory, sensor technology, and metrology. Among other tasks, the Optical Scientist will work with multi-disciplinary design teams to define technical requirements, determine feasibility, and lay out and maintain a technology roadmap for future products. The optical solutions will have applications in aerosol physics, particle counting, gas concentration measurement and speciation, agriculture, ventilation/humidity/air flow/velocity, and outdoor air quality.
What Will You Do?
In order to grow and build a successful career with TSI, you will:
- Support existing methods and contribute ideas to improve the company’s core competency in the areas such as lasers, spectroscopy, instrumentation design, particle counting and sizing
- Design and prototyping of optical systems to include lenses, coatings, mirrors, fibers, and waveguides
- Evaluate existing methods and develop improved methods for measurements and instrumentation
- As needed, write, comment, and de-bug software/modeling code for optics and other models accurately and efficiently, while following TSI coding standards
- Publish papers and generate patent applications relating to the company’s measurement needs
- Participate on project teams and attend technical reviews offering insights on detection possibilities
- Keep active in the fields of interest by reviewing literature, interacting with existing and potential collaborators, and networking with industrial and academic colleagues
- Work with leaders in the field to develop and implement advanced optical measurement techniques; this can include working from published literature or directly with developers of licensed technologies
- Participate in technical feasibility projects
- Provide consulting across the organization to address problems and recommend solutions
- Develop and execute research, feasibility, verification, and validation subsystem and system level test plans
- Lead technicians in the testing effort
- Mentor technicians on performing tests, documenting test results, and providing a physics-based explanation of what is being tested
- Respond to advanced technical questions from the field
- Participate in technical reviews offering insights on design, especially from a customer’s perspective
- Participate in design reviews; give critical and constructive feedback to improve the reviewed designs
- Work cooperatively with other departments to develop best practices
- Complete other assignments and special projects, as requested
What Do You Need?
Required
- MS or PhD (PhD preferred) in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering, optical engineering, mechanical engineering, or similar field from an established research institution
- 8+ years experience in a product development environment as a scientist or test engineer
- Electro-optics and laser physics as applied to instrumentation
- Thorough understanding of laser operation and non-linear characteristics
- Physical optics: diffraction, polarization
- Geometric optics: ability to design and/or specify special-purpose lenses; aberration
- Light scattering theory and practical applications
- Experience with optical modeling using tools such as Matlab, Mathcad, Zemax, or similar
- Excellent hands-on experimentalist, rigorous documentation, and reporting
- Strong understanding of problems and best-practice solutions in detecting, counting, and sizing particles
- Strong understanding problems and best-practice solutions with photometers
- Good working knowledge of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and optics
- Experience converting requirements into tests
Desired
- Experience in photonics
- Experience with lens and mirror design and coating design or selection
- Experience designing and using photodiodes, APDs, photomultipliers, spectrometers, and array detection devices like CCDs
- Understanding problems and known solutions in detecting, sizing, and counting aerosol and liquisol particles
- Knowledge of signal processing techniques
- Experience leading technicians
- Knowledge gas measurement techniques (FTIR, FID, NDIR, EC, and PID)
- Performing uncertainty analysis of complex calibration systems
- Developing products used for environmental monitoring applications
What Can We Give You?
At TSI, our employees are our most valuable assets, and we care about their health and happiness. We offer a competitive benefits program to keep our employees and their family members protected and foster a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, we are committed to employee development and growth, and encourage and foster an environment of collaboration, and innovation. Our work has meaning and the products we design and build help protect people and the environment.
Dress for your day: We want our employees to be comfortable at work and we know they are more productive when they’re comfortable. The dress for your day policy allows employees’ discretion to select appropriate dress for the business of each workday.
Pay & Benefits:
Competitive market salary from $155,000 - $170,000 per year* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, additional bonus opportunities may be available and awarded at the discretion of the Company.
Benefits:
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Retirement Plan: 401(k) with company match.
- Paid Time Off Program: Paid time off, paid holidays, and paid floating holidays.
- Other Benefits: Life insurance, employee assistance program (EAP), and professional development opportunities.
*Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time.
Legal authorization to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship. We require proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
EOE/Vet/Disability
TSI provides trusted measurement, application guidance, and data analytics solutions that enable our global customers to make informed decisions. We are creating a better world by helping protect people, products and the environment, as well as by optimizing research and industrial processes.
Job Segment: Agronomy, Research Scientist, Testing, Physics, Air Quality, Agriculture, Science, Technology, Engineering
Location:
Shoreview, MN, US, 55126
Who Are We?
Are you someone that likes new challenges? Do you want to explore new technologies and help solve some of the world’s most difficult problems, like air quality and safety solutions? At TSI, these opportunities are real. Our engineers work with industry-leading experts both internally and externally. We encourage and enable our engineers to get into the field with customers to better understand their issues and solve their problems. At TSI, you make a difference – every day.
Staff Optical Scientist at TSI
The primary role of the Staff Optical Scientist will be to lead the modeling, design, and development of laser and optical assemblies for use in various measurement technologies. This role will serve as a subject matter expert in optics throughout the organization and will create test plans, author test reports, work with technicians to perform tests, and document the test results. This role will have contact with systems engineers, technicians, design engineers, project management, metrology, quality, marketing, sales, customers, and tech support.
The Staff Optical Scientist will require a strong working knowledge of mathematical modeling tools, electronics, electro-optics, laser physics, light scattering theory, sensor technology, and metrology. Among other tasks, the Optical Scientist will work with multi-disciplinary design teams to define technical requirements, determine feasibility, and lay out and maintain a technology roadmap for future products. The optical solutions will have applications in aerosol physics, particle counting, gas concentration measurement and speciation, agriculture, ventilation/humidity/air flow/velocity, and outdoor air quality.
What Will You Do?
In order to grow and build a successful career with TSI, you will:
- Support existing methods and contribute ideas to improve the company’s core competency in the areas such as lasers, spectroscopy, instrumentation design, particle counting and sizing
- Design and prototyping of optical systems to include lenses, coatings, mirrors, fibers, and waveguides
- Evaluate existing methods and develop improved methods for measurements and instrumentation
- As needed, write, comment, and de-bug software/modeling code for optics and other models accurately and efficiently, while following TSI coding standards
- Publish papers and generate patent applications relating to the company’s measurement needs
- Participate on project teams and attend technical reviews offering insights on detection possibilities
- Keep active in the fields of interest by reviewing literature, interacting with existing and potential collaborators, and networking with industrial and academic colleagues
- Work with leaders in the field to develop and implement advanced optical measurement techniques; this can include working from published literature or directly with developers of licensed technologies
- Participate in technical feasibility projects
- Provide consulting across the organization to address problems and recommend solutions
- Develop and execute research, feasibility, verification, and validation subsystem and system level test plans
- Lead technicians in the testing effort
- Mentor technicians on performing tests, documenting test results, and providing a physics-based explanation of what is being tested
- Respond to advanced technical questions from the field
- Participate in technical reviews offering insights on design, especially from a customer’s perspective
- Participate in design reviews; give critical and constructive feedback to improve the reviewed designs
- Work cooperatively with other departments to develop best practices
- Complete other assignments and special projects, as requested
What Do You Need?
Required
- MS or PhD (PhD preferred) in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering, optical engineering, mechanical engineering, or similar field from an established research institution
- 8+ years experience in a product development environment as a scientist or test engineer
- Electro-optics and laser physics as applied to instrumentation
- Thorough understanding of laser operation and non-linear characteristics
- Physical optics: diffraction, polarization
- Geometric optics: ability to design and/or specify special-purpose lenses; aberration
- Light scattering theory and practical applications
- Experience with optical modeling using tools such as Matlab, Mathcad, Zemax, or similar
- Excellent hands-on experimentalist, rigorous documentation, and reporting
- Strong understanding of problems and best-practice solutions in detecting, counting, and sizing particles
- Strong understanding problems and best-practice solutions with photometers
- Good working knowledge of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and optics
- Experience converting requirements into tests
Desired
- Experience in photonics
- Experience with lens and mirror design and coating design or selection
- Experience designing and using photodiodes, APDs, photomultipliers, spectrometers, and array detection devices like CCDs
- Understanding problems and known solutions in detecting, sizing, and counting aerosol and liquisol particles
- Knowledge of signal processing techniques
- Experience leading technicians
- Knowledge gas measurement techniques (FTIR, FID, NDIR, EC, and PID)
- Performing uncertainty analysis of complex calibration systems
- Developing products used for environmental monitoring applications
What Can We Give You?
At TSI, our employees are our most valuable assets, and we care about their health and happiness. We offer a competitive benefits program to keep our employees and their family members protected and foster a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, we are committed to employee development and growth, and encourage and foster an environment of collaboration, and innovation. Our work has meaning and the products we design and build help protect people and the environment.
Dress for your day: We want our employees to be comfortable at work and we know they are more productive when they’re comfortable. The dress for your day policy allows employees’ discretion to select appropriate dress for the business of each workday.
Pay & Benefits:
Competitive market salary from $155,000 - $170,000 per year* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, additional bonus opportunities may be available and awarded at the discretion of the Company.
Benefits:
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Retirement Plan: 401(k) with company match.
- Paid Time Off Program: Paid time off, paid holidays, and paid floating holidays.
- Other Benefits: Life insurance, employee assistance program (EAP), and professional development opportunities.
*Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time.
Legal authorization to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship. We require proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
EOE/Vet/Disability
TSI provides trusted measurement, application guidance, and data analytics solutions that enable our global customers to make informed decisions. We are creating a better world by helping protect people, products and the environment, as well as by optimizing research and industrial processes.
Job Segment: Agronomy, Research Scientist, Testing, Physics, Air Quality, Agriculture, Science, Technology, Engineering
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as an Optical Scientist
Highlight photonics and laser expertise
Emphasize specialized skills in laser physics, fiber optics, or quantum optics. These niche areas are harder to fill domestically, strengthening your sponsorship case with USCIS and making you more valuable to employers.
Target defense and aerospace companies
Companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing frequently sponsor optical scientists for classified projects. Security clearance eligibility can be a significant advantage in this sector's sponsorship decisions.
Document advanced degree requirements
Most optical scientist positions require a PhD in optics, physics, or electrical engineering. Ensure job descriptions explicitly state this degree requirement to strengthen H-1B specialty occupation arguments.
Consider O-1 for research achievements
Published research, patents, or recognition in optical sciences can qualify you for O-1 extraordinary ability status. This path has no cap limits and faster processing than H-1B.
Research university partnerships
Many optical research roles are at universities or government labs with existing H-1B cap-exempt status. These positions can sponsor immediately without lottery concerns or annual quotas.
Prepare for technical interviews
Be ready to explain complex optical concepts clearly during interviews. Employers need confidence that you can communicate technical findings to both engineering teams and business stakeholders effectively.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a PhD to get H-1B sponsorship as an optical scientist?
Most optical scientist positions require a PhD in optics, physics, electrical engineering, or related field. While a master's degree plus extensive experience might qualify for some roles, the PhD requirement strengthens the H-1B specialty occupation argument and is standard for research positions in photonics and laser development.
Which visa is better for optical scientists - H-1B or O-1?
O-1 can be superior if you have published research, patents, or recognition in optical sciences. It has no annual cap, faster processing, and allows more flexibility. H-1B remains the standard path for most positions, but O-1 is worth pursuing if you meet the extraordinary ability criteria through research achievements.
Do optical scientists have good H-1B approval rates?
Yes, optical scientist positions typically have high H-1B approval rates because they clearly require specialized knowledge in physics and engineering. The advanced degree requirements and technical complexity of the work make it easy to demonstrate specialty occupation status to USCIS.
Can I get sponsored for optical engineering roles with an optics PhD?
Yes, an optics or physics PhD often qualifies for optical engineering positions, especially in R&D environments. However, some engineering roles may prefer electrical or mechanical engineering degrees. Review job requirements carefully and be prepared to explain how your optics background applies to engineering tasks.
Are there cap-exempt opportunities for optical scientists?
Yes, many optical research positions are at universities, national labs, or nonprofit research institutions that are H-1B cap-exempt. Companies like MIT Lincoln Laboratory, NIST, or university-affiliated research centers can sponsor immediately without lottery concerns, making them strategic targets for international candidates.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Optical Scientist jobs?
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.
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