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How to hire a laser engineer

Laser engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring laser engineers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a laser engineer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new laser engineer to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a laser engineer, step by step

To hire a laser engineer, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a laser engineer:

Here's a step-by-step laser engineer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a laser engineer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new laser engineer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a laser engineer do?

A laser engineer is one who specializes in making and developing laser devices or machines that is for laser purposes. They supervises the laser team in operating and ensuring that all laser-related equipment is functioning well. They can also specialize in doing advanced optics or optic devices. Their responsibilities include the regular monitoring and optimization of laser outputs as well as finding out a reasonable solution on how to handles laser issues that will be arising.

Learn more about the specifics of what a laser engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your laser engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a laser engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a laser engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a laser engineer that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of laser engineers.

    Type of Laser EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Laser Engineer$29-55
    Product Development EngineerA Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.$30-54
    Research And Development EngineerResearch and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies... Show more$35-64
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • MATLAB
    • Data Collection
    • LabVIEW
    • Data Analysis
    • Optical Engineering
    • Fiber Laser
    • Diode
    • IR
    • Engineering Support
    • Customer Support
    • Optical Systems
    • Product Development
    • R
    • Continuous Wave
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage Terraform and refactore from monolithic to application specific components.
    • Support manufacturing by testing lenses on ZYGO interferometer or MTF tester and designing and implementing electro-optical test beds.
    • Prepare soil data in geotechnical software and graphical figures to be used and review by professional engineering project managers.
    • Prepare soil data in geotechnical software and graphical figures to be used and review by professional engineering project managers.
    More laser engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the laser engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A laser engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a laser engineer in South Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level laser engineer. Additionally, a laser engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average laser engineer salary

    $85,319yearly

    $41.02 hourly rate

    Entry-level laser engineer salary
    $62,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 19, 2025

    Average laser engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$105,149$51
    2Nevada$102,198$49
    3Washington$95,329$46
    4Oregon$95,039$46
    5Arizona$90,548$44
    6New Mexico$88,329$42
    7Texas$87,639$42
    8New York$86,779$42
    9Massachusetts$86,757$42
    10Montana$85,890$41
    11Florida$85,073$41
    12Colorado$83,098$40
    13Wisconsin$82,061$39
    14Ohio$81,803$39
    15Tennessee$81,470$39
    16Indiana$81,076$39

    Average laser engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Booz Allen Hamilton$104,021$50.014
    2Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory$103,259$49.641
    3Masimo$98,845$47.52
    4SpaceX$92,535$44.4929
    5Thorlabs$92,341$44.39
    6Continental$89,838$43.19
    7ASML Holding$89,224$42.901
    8Sightpath Medical$88,992$42.783
    9Northrop Grumman$88,265$42.442
    10Oclaro$87,681$42.15
    11MKS Instruments$87,297$41.97
    12Lumentum$86,489$41.581
    13Cutera$85,665$41.19
    14Luminar Technologies$85,344$41.03
    15Innovusion$85,144$40.93
    16Panasonic$85,136$40.93
    17California Institute of Technology$84,977$40.85
    18Alcatel Networks Inc$84,601$40.67
    19HTRI$84,601$40.67
    20Tyco Healthcare$84,520$40.63
  4. Writing a laser engineer job description

    A good laser engineer job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a laser engineer job description:

    Laser engineer job description example


    • Sightpath Medical is the premier cataract and LASIK mobile services provider in the U.S.
    • We provide an independent working atmosphere
    • We provide on the job training to help you become an expert in our area of expertise
    • Salary position with quarterly bonus eligibility
    • 401(k) plan
    • Medical Benefits including medical, dental, vision, health savings account, short term disability, long term disability
    • Health and Wellness Program

    Responsibilities:
    • Requires the ability to install/de-install and operate transportable lasers and related equipment on one business unit at customer sites.
    • Responsible for calibration and programming of equipment for surgeon's approval prior to surgery being performed.
    • Responsible for the operation of both lasers when they are both required.
    • Provide routine preventative maintenance and repairs on the laser systems to maximize usage and minimize downtime.
    • Ability to troubleshoot, remove and replace components of the laser and calibrate to vendor specifications.
    • Responsible for maintaining all company assets in good working order.
    • Adherence to company standard operating procedures that meet/exceed standard of care.
    • Ability to complete Annual and Semi-Annual Preventative Maintenance checks and services on all assigned equipment. Successfully completes all PM paperwork during
    and at the end of PM.
    • Understands and adheres to proper sterile technique.
    • Other duties as required

    Qualifications:
    • Degree in Laser Electro-optics, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Biomedical Electronics, Electronics or military training equivalent.
    • Proficiency with basic electronics and associated test equipment.
    • Able to work a varied work schedule and travel.
    • Able to work in a team environment.
    • Valid Driver's License
    • Ability to pass company administered road test.
    • Ability to occasionally lift 50 lbs.
    • Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
    • Able to work a varied work schedule and travel.
    • Great customer service skills.

    SIGHTPATH is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, we prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, gender, pregnancy or related medical conditions, age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and coworkers.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right laser engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with laser engineers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit laser engineers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your laser engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit laser engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting laser engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new laser engineer

    Once you've decided on a perfect laser engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new laser engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a laser engineer?

Hiring a laser engineer comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting laser engineers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of laser engineer recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for laser engineers is $85,319 in the US. However, the cost of laser engineer hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a laser engineer for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $29 and $55 an hour.

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