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Optical engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Daniel Armentrout

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical optical engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for optical engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.4% of optical engineer resumes contained zemax as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an optical engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 optical engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Zemax

Here's how optical engineers use zemax:

Ray tracing capabilities using CAD package ZEMAX for both sequential and non-sequential designs.
Founded lens design consulting company to provide Zemax optical system design and analysis.

2. Data Analysis

Here's how optical engineers use data analysis:

Supported data analysis for changes in coating properties by tracking and summarizing measurement results.
Developed Bash, Python, PHP and MySQL scripts for data analysis and daily bug report system.

3. Optical Components

An optical component is a simple optical element used in the construction of optical systems to change the state of light by several means including, filtering, focusing, polarization, or reflection, and used as a critical component in larger systems for measuring, analyzing, structuring and processing precisely with the use of light and with little light loss.

Here's how optical engineers use optical components:

Performed design of small optical components and subsystems for different experiments, optimization, tolerance analysis and specification for fabrication.
Designed and wrote procedures for incoming inspection testing for optical components.

4. Solidworks

Here's how optical engineers use solidworks:

Designed and detailed lens housing components and determined lens mechanical envelope using SolidWorks.
Utilized SolidWorks to design mechanical parts, fiber and optical layouts as well as the layout of power and control units.

5. CAD

Here's how optical engineers use cad:

Gained proficiency in CAD, design control, Chemical compatibility, Geometric dimensions and tolerance, Statistical analysis.
Developed product, managed CAD system operations and resources, and evaluated and justified communications network expansions

6. System Performance

System performance refers to how efficient a computer system is, often measured on how much work is completed in a set timeframe. This measurement is estimated judging on a computer system's speed, the accuracy, and how efficient the work is completed. Depending on the field, a system's performance may be required to meet a certain level before the system can safely be used.

Here's how optical engineers use system performance:

Size of new products is significantly reduced with even improved system performance.
Demonstrated & characterized the system performance in a lab.

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7. LabVIEW

Here's how optical engineers use labview:

Developed LabView programs, interpreted data with various analysis tools, developed product information database.
Developed LabView programs to automatically measure GRIN lens focal length, focal spot, and laser beam profile.

8. Code V

Here's how optical engineers use code v:

Designed and optimized of light tunnel systems for uniform illumination using Code V.
Patent Literature searches and performance evaluation using Code V.

9. IR

Optics is a branch of physics that encapsulates everything about the science of light. Infrared, also called infrared light, is electromagnetic energy with wavelengths longer than visible light. Therefore, it is invisible to the naked human eye. IR is generally encompassing wavelengths from the nominal red edge of the visible spectrum around 700 nanometers, to 1 millimetre. Infrared (IR) optical fibres may be defined as fibre optics that transmit radiation.

Here's how optical engineers use ir:

Optimized IR mode-locked laser design for beam quality, high power, and pulse width.
Value Engineering Investigation using a matched IR LED & GaAlAs detector.

10. Prototyping

Here's how optical engineers use prototyping:

Design and prototyping of a 1.7mm catheter and a pull-back module for the OCT product.
Guided development from initial concept stage to prototyping, testing, and final market launch.

11. Data Acquisition

Data acquisition involves getting real-time values and digital, numerical representations of everyday activities and physical conditions. These values can be altered and manipulated by a computer to get accurate results that can be used to solve problems, answer questions, or reapplied into everyday activities.

Here's how optical engineers use data acquisition:

Programmed custom data acquisition and image analysis software in NI LabWindows CVI.
Designed test-bed to qualify system concept: fast data acquisition at 50ns.

12. Test Procedures

Test procedure i defined as a tool for conducting an experiment to analyze or observe the specifications of a process or application.

Here's how optical engineers use test procedures:

Identified calibration and test procedures required before shipment.
Developed manufacturing and test procedures for the M1 Tank laser Rangefinder.

13. Mechanical Design

Here's how optical engineers use mechanical design:

Worked with mechanical designers/engineers to develop opto-mechanical assemblies and lens fabrication drawings.
Contract Projects: Bio-medical illumination, LEDs, ambient light and proximity sensors, scan head optics, and mechanical design.

14. Test Equipment

Test equipment is a mechanical tool or a device which is used create signals and gather response from an electronic device under test. It helps in detecting any faults in the device and it also proves the proper operation of the electronic device.

Here's how optical engineers use test equipment:

Diagnosed problems with test equipment by coordinating efforts with engineers and repair technicians.
Designed and built optical test equipment for inspecting injection molded video disks.

15. Telescopes

Here's how optical engineers use telescopes:

Supervised the tear down and re-installation of optical telescopes and optical systems when the program changed work locations.
Design tasks included working with vendor to optimize alignment telescopes for the NIR.

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What skills help Optical Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What optical engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Daniel Armentrout

Clinical Associate Professor/Associate Chair

Expanded use of swarms of cheap sensors that communicate on multiple platforms for better understanding and control of complicated systems. Integrated use of artificial intelligence to increase our effectiveness in all aspects of our jobs.

Do you want to know more?

List of optical engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an optical engineer resume and required skills for an optical engineer to have include:

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

Laser Systems
Remote Sensing
Fiber Optic
Tolerance Analysis
MTF
Asap
Failure Analysis
Adaptive
Optical Performance
Light Analysis
Technical Support
Power Meters
Optical Alignment
Interferometers
Sputtering
Optical Test

Optical Elements
CMOS
VIS
Optical Analysis
Optical Instruments
Product Development
R
Modulators
NASA
Projection
Laser Beam
LCD
Optical System Design
Spectrometers
Optical Sensor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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