How to hire an optical engineer

How to hire an optical engineer, step by step

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

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

What does an optical engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your optical 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 an optical 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?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an optical 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 an optical engineer that fits the bill.

   This list presents optical engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Optical Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Optical Engineer	An Optical Engineer designs optical devices to be used in eyewear, telescopes, cameras, and lasers. They ensure that optical and electronic components meet all given specifications.	$33-67
   Research And Development Engineer	Research 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
   Radio Frequency Engineer	A radio frequency engineer, also known as RF engineer, specializes in designing and developing communication systems using radio waves. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around creating networks and systems and testing equipment... Show more	$32-55

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Zemax
   • Data Analysis
   • Optical Components
   • Solidworks
   • CAD
   • System Performance
   • LabVIEW
   • Code V
   • IR
   • Prototyping
   • Data Acquisition
   • Test Procedures
   • Mechanical Design
   • Test Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead a team of engineers, manage, organize and prioritize multiple projects from design to commissioning and provisioning.
   • Invent, design and lead the prototyping of a high contrast Fresnel lens/projection screen and its ultra-thin cabinet-less projection display.
   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Design of complex optical instruments from UV to IR.
   • Model lens defects and their impact on system performance using ZEMAX.
   • Assist in optical design and analysis for HEL effects testing and perform data analysis using MATLAB.

   More optical engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the optical engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. An optical 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 an optical engineer in Pennsylvania may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level optical engineer. Additionally, an optical engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average optical engineer salary

   $99,814yearly

   $47.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level optical engineer salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average optical engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$128,432	$62
   2	Washington	$116,856	$56
   3	Arizona	$108,644	$52
   4	Texas	$100,869	$48
   5	Colorado	$100,112	$48
   6	Maryland	$99,149	$48
   7	New Jersey	$99,012	$48
   8	Massachusetts	$97,046	$47
   9	Oregon	$90,839	$44
   10	Wisconsin	$86,403	$42
   11	Georgia	$85,696	$41
   12	New York	$84,669	$41
   13	Florida	$84,526	$41
   14	Michigan	$79,512	$38
   15	Hawaii	$77,656	$37
   16	Alabama	$77,265	$37

   Average optical engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$158,052	$75.99	23
   2	Apple	$148,394	$71.34	39
   3	Google	$141,672	$68.11	29
   4	Zoox	$140,513	$67.55	5
   5	Microsoft	$138,701	$66.68	13
   6	10x Genomics	$133,118	$64.00
   7	Amazon	$132,290	$63.60	68
   8	Fitbit	$124,617	$59.91
   9	CyberCoders	$124,372	$59.79
   10	Neuralink IT Solutions	$123,817	$59.53	2
   11	Tencent	$123,481	$59.37
   12	Koch Industries	$123,008	$59.14	1
   13	Malin	$121,865	$58.59
   14	Applied Materials	$120,316	$57.84	16
   15	Arista Networks	$117,512	$56.50	9
   16	Finisar	$116,822	$56.16
   17	Intuitive Surgical	$116,163	$55.85	7
   18	Complete Genomics	$115,139	$55.36
   19	PacBio	$114,648	$55.12
   20	Booz Allen Hamilton	$114,548	$55.07	28

4. Writing an optical engineer job description

   A good optical 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 an optical engineer job description:

   Optical engineer job description example

   We’re developing the future of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) products. As an Optical validation engineer, you will be a member of our Display and Optics organization, taking the responsibility for all the characterization and analysis of display optical performance and display related components to lead leading edge technologies and will work with the current and evolving ecosystem to provide differentiating capabilities to our HW platforms. You will be part of a tight-knit group of highly talented engineers at the forefront of the innovation for AR/VR products.
   Responsibilities:
   Support leading edge display technology development as optical validation engineer. Drive display optical performance validation and component level optical characteristics Set up the validation platform of hardware/software system and perform quantitative analysis. Lead all FA activities with destructive and non-destructive analysis both. Closely work with cross functional to define problem statement and suggest next step
   Minimum Qualifications:
   Bachelor’s degree or higher in optical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, or a similar field. In-Depth experience with optical device characterization and analysis skill Hands on experience in optical device design, development, prototyping and building optical instrument. Expert knowledge in scientific programming, signal processing and data analysis (Python, Machine learning experience is a plus)
   Preferred Qualifications:
   Display driving technology in-depth based on AM OLED Failure analysis with AMOLED products and process DOE performed experience
   This position comes with full benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, 401k and more!
   
   THE PROMISES WE MAKE:
   At Crystal Equation, we empower people and advance technology initiatives by building trust. Your recruiter will prep you for the interview, obtain feedback, guide you through any necessary paperwork and provide everything you need for a successful start. We will serve to empower you along the way and provide the path for your professional journey.
   
   #LI-MECKEBRECHT

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find optical engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any optical engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level optical engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your optical engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit optical engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit optical engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 optical engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the optical engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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.)

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How much does it cost to hire an optical engineer?