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Senior optical engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior optical engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for senior optical engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.9% of senior optical engineer resumes contained matlab as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior optical engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior optical engineer skills for your resume and career

1. MATLAB

Here's how senior optical engineers use matlab:

Developed high accuracy pixel yield measurement system and analysis algorithm with Matlab.
Created a ray-based model of a spectroscopic confocal ellipsometer using Zemax and Matlab.

2. Zemax

Here's how senior optical engineers use zemax:

Work includes optics selection, optical throughput predictions, illumination uniformity simulations, and tolerance analysis in Zemax.
Modeled optical systems and components in Zemax; Optimized the designs and performed tolerance analysis using these models.

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 senior optical engineers use optical components:

Perform laboratory experiments on optical components and systems.
Preform optical characterization of optical components and assemblies.

4. Prototype

A prototype is a model or sample of a product, created prior to its release with the goal of testing the product and observing its behavior and effectiveness in use. The results of this testing are then used to further alter and improve the product in question, often redesigning it, fixing any issues which may have come up, and otherwise upgrading the already existing design.

Here's how senior optical engineers use prototype:

Discovered critical physical mechanism responsible for modal instability onset in high-powered fiber laser prototype.
Performed optical design simulation, built and tested first optical transmitter prototypes with Direct Modulation of Laser (DML).

5. Optical Engineering

Here's how senior optical engineers use optical engineering:

Created optical and mechanical requirements for optical and lens assemblies and optical engineering processes, procedures, requirements, and documentation.

6. Design Reviews

A dеѕіgn review іѕ a mіlеѕtоnе wіthіn a рrоduсt dеvеlорmеnt рrосеѕѕ іn whісh a design іѕ evaluated bаѕеd on іtѕ rеԛuіrеmеntѕ. Thе рurроѕе of dеѕіgn rеvіеwѕ іѕ tо examine thе overall design or a ѕресіfіс аѕресt оf a dеѕіgn аt еасh ѕtаgе of the development оf a nеw оr еxіѕtіng рrоduсt.

Here's how senior optical engineers use design reviews:

Prepare and present the design reviews at each stage of the design.
Managed customer expectations with presentations, technical briefs, design reviews and implementation plans.

7. Data Analysis

Here's how senior optical engineers use data analysis:

Tailored imaging optics devices/components spec per combination of system specs, modeling/simulations and empirical data analysis.
Provided technical guidance to data analysis and software development teams for new algorithms and software development.

8. 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 senior optical engineers use ir:

Specified and procured an IR camera to monitor machine temperatures during component fab.
Design and construction of projection, 3D, and backlit display systems in Visible and IR.

9. Code V

Here's how senior 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.

10. Asap

Here's how senior optical engineers use asap:

Study and minimization of stray light on ESA payloads (ASAP software).
Hired for non-existent stray light work and stayed busy teaching ASAP usage and modeling baffles.

11. System Design

System design refers to the electronic structural component of a system.

Here's how senior optical engineers use system design:

Assisted accelerator engineer with accelerator maintenance, repairs, and modifications of six linear accelerators of various system design.
Planned and developed specifications for trunk gateway system design and authored technical requirement specifications within scope and schedule.

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 senior optical engineers use test procedures:

Documented the test procedures and ensured that the technicians followed the procedures and installed accordingly and prepared associated technical documentation.
Generated and reviewed Naval Combat Systems functional and performance test procedures and electrical systems cabling and detailed wiring diagrams.

13. Telescopes

Here's how senior optical engineers use telescopes:

Supervised the tear down and re-installation of optical telescopes and optical systems when the program changed work locations.
Led test team in building and testing next generation space to ground Laser Communication telescopes.

14. Tolerance Analysis

Here's how senior optical engineers use tolerance analysis:

Performed comprehensive tolerance analysis to provide guidelines for component tolerance and mounting requirements.
Re-specified coatings for all flat components in light path after tolerance analysis.

15. Solidworks

Here's how senior optical engineers use solidworks:

Designed and detailed lens housing components and determined lens mechanical envelope using SolidWorks.

What skills help Senior Optical Engineers find jobs?

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

List of senior optical engineer skills to add to your resume

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

MATLAB
Zemax
Optical Components
Prototype
Optical Engineering
Design Reviews
Data Analysis
IR
Code V
Asap
System Design
Test Procedures
Telescopes
Tolerance Analysis
Solidworks
Fiber Optic
Light Analysis

Test Equipment
Remote Sensing
BOM
Technical Support
Troubleshoot
LiDAR
MTF
Prototyping
UV
R
Electro-Optical Systems
Mechanical Design
Provisioning
Interferometers
LabVIEW
Optical Performance
Modulators

Optical Devices
Adaptive
Product Line
Laser Beam
Optical Analysis
Thin Films
Failure Analysis
Optical Elements
NASA
Product Development
Telecommunication
Optical Instruments
Raman
CMOS
Display Systems

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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