Senior Optical Engineer (1145264)

The Judge Group; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Judge Group is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer in Boston to lead the design, development, and testing of advanced optical systems. The role emphasizes hands‑on laboratory work, subsystem integration, and collaboration across engineering teams.

A strong optics background and experience with Zemax and CAD tools are required. Ideal candidates have 2–5 years of relevant experience, a Bachelor’s in optics/physics, and a Master’s degree preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in optics or related field; master's preferred.
• 2–5 years of experience designing/building/testing optical and opto‑mechanical systems.
• Strong system‑level optical design skills; experience with Zemax and CAD tools (SolidWorks, Inventor).
• Hands‑on laboratory skills: assembly, alignment, cleaning, testing, characterization.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to design, build, and test optical subsystems throughout the product lifecycle.
• Perform hands‑on lab activities including assembly, alignment, cleaning, and testing of optical systems.
• Contribute to engineering documentation, design reviews, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with R&D teams to transition concepts into scalable, production‑ready solutions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues onsite and at customer locations with field support.
• Support system integration, validation, and performance optimization.

Skills

Optical design

Free-space optics

Fiber optics

Optical modulators

Electro-optic systems

Laser systems

System testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optics/Optical Engineering/Applied Physics

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Zemax

SolidWorks

Inventor

Job description

Location: Boston, MA
Salary: $130,000.00 USD Annually - $170,000.00 USD Annually

Senior Optical Engineer

We are seeking a talented Optical Engineer to contribute to the development of advanced optical systems and technologies. This role offers the opportunity to work on complex engineering challenges, supporting the design, development, testing, and deployment of cutting-edge products. The ideal candidate will have a strong educational background in optics, optical engineering, or applied physics, combined with hands‑on experience designing, building, and testing optical systems. Success in this role requires a strong foundation in optical principles, excellent laboratory skills, and a desire to thrive in a collaborative engineering environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering and scientific teams to design, build, and test optical subsystems, modules, and components throughout the full product lifecycle, including research and development, productization, manufacturing support, and maintenance.


• Perform hands‑on laboratory activities including optical assembly, alignment, cleaning, characterization, and testing of optical systems.


• Contribute to engineering documentation, design reviews, technical reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.


• Partner with research and development teams to transition innovative concepts and technologies into scalable, production‑ready solutions.


• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues both onsite and, when required, at customer locations in coordination with field support teams.


• Support system integration, validation, and performance optimization efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Optics, Optical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related discipline. Master's degree preferred.


• 2 to 5 years of experience designing, building, or testing optical and opto‑mechanical systems in an industry, government laboratory, FFRDC, or similar engineering environment.


• Strong system-level optical design skills, including experience with Zemax and CAD software such as SolidWorks, Inventor, or similar tools.


• Working knowledge in several of the following areas:




• Free‑space optics


• Fiber optics


• Optical modulators


• Electro‑optic systems


• Laser systems


• Optical system characterization and testing




• Strong hands‑on laboratory skills, including optical assembly, alignment, cleaning, troubleshooting, and testing.


• Experience contributing to the development of scientific instrumentation, advanced optical systems, or products transitioning from concept to production.


• Excellent attention to detail, organizational, communication, and technical documentation skills.


• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing complex optical systems for advanced technology products.


• Familiarity with engineering change management, configuration control, and enterprise engineering processes.


• Experience supporting manufacturing, deployment, or customer‑facing technical activities.


• Knowledge of opto‑mechanical design principles and system integration best practices.