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Photonics Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

Engineer working with lasers
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$117,750
Job Growth
Job Growth
2.10%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
162,100

What Do They Do?

A photonics engineer could...

 
Laser eye surgery
Help save lives by designing laser tools that are used in delicate eye and heart surgeries.
communications model
Develop better fiber optics to transmit large amounts of data around the world in the blink of an eye.
LED headlights on sports car
Design LED-based car headlights that are stylish, energy efficient, and bright enough for driving safely.
Concert lighting
Dazzle and entertain crowds by developing specialized lasers for rock concerts and art installations.
 
Laser eye surgery communications model LED headlights on sports car Concert lighting

Overview Listen to this section

You can send emails and text messages around the world in a matter of seconds. Surgeons routinely perform laser surgery that results in less bleeding and faster healing time. Our Air Force defends our skies using electronics-based aircraft that can almost fly themselves! In space, we are revolutionizing satellite communication that improve things like GPS systems and weather forecasting. What is one of the connections among these advances? Photonics technology! Photonics is the science of using light and electronic devices to create tools that improve our lives. Isn't it amazing that light can solve so many different kinds of problems?
In this video Dr. Stanley Rogers of the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base describes what photonics is and how it can be used in several applications.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPd_uZdApF4

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Photonics Engineer?


  1. Critical Thinking: ?
  2. Writing: ?
  3. Reading Comprehension: ?
  4. Active Listening: ?
  5. Speaking: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Photonics Engineer might do:
  • Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
  • Develop optical or imaging systems, such as optical imaging products, optical components, image processes, signal process technologies, or optical systems.
  • Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
  • Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
  • Assist in the transition of photonic prototypes to production.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
  • Write reports or proposals related to photonics research or development projects.
  • Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.
  • Determine applications of photonics appropriate to meet product objectives or features.
  • Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
  • Design electro-optical sensing or imaging systems.
  • Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes.
  • Design photonics products, such as light sources, displays, or photovoltaics, to achieve increased energy efficiency.
  • Train operators, engineers, or other personnel.
  • Analyze, fabricate, or test fiber-optic links.
  • Create or maintain photonic design histories.
  • Design gas lasers, solid state lasers, infrared, or other light emitting or light sensitive devices.
  • Oversee or provide expertise on manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication processes.
  • Determine commercial, industrial, scientific, or other uses for electro-optical applications or devices.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Photonics Engineer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Photonics Engineer jobs (2.10%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Photonics Engineer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Most photonics engineers begin as assistants to experienced engineers. As they gain experience, they may become supervisors or specialize in a particular aspect of laser or fiber-optics technology. Some engineers advance to management positions. A few engineers with the necessary education can become research directors or principal engineers. Engineers may also advance by starting their own consulting or manufacturing companies.

Photonics engineers should learn how to use systems for computer-assisted design and drafting (or CADD) and computer-assisted manufacturing (or CAM). The laser and fiber-optics field is advancing rapidly, and engineers in this profession must continually update their knowledge to maintain their expertise by taking classes.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

You need at least a bachelor's degree in one of several engineering specialties to enter this field. These degrees include electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, engineering science, or engineering physics. Some colleges and universities offer degrees in optics technology or photonics. It usually takes four to five years to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering. Certain positions in the laser and fiber-optics profession, such as optical designer, require an advanced degree. You can obtain a master's degree in one or two years of additional full-time study. It generally takes about four years of study after earning a bachelor's degree to receive a PhD. A PhD is required to teach at the university level in this field as well as for industrial research and development positions.

Companies That Hire Photonics Engineers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

STEAM Series: Aerospace Optical Engineer
What I do is, I work on coatings for space. So, I work on mirrors, filters, anything that is going to go on a spacecraft that helps interact with light – I work with that…. Optics touches almost everything you see, from imagery of planets, from satellites, on airplanes. We help support all of that. 
Dr. Chelsea Appleget, Optical Thin Film Specialist, Aerospace Corporation

Nature of the Work

Advances in technology and communications move at the speed of light. Much of our communications system is based on transmitting information, in the form of light, through optical fibers. Engineers who develop the tools and technical applications of light are called photonics engineers. The science of photonics is the generation, transmission, modulation, and detection of light.

Photonics engineers are concerned with devising and improving sources of light and the optical fibers that the light travels through. These engineers must have a thorough knowledge of physics, engineering, and optics. Working in this field allows one to investigate a variety of areas. Photonics engineers can:

  • Design and modify laser equipment and components for manufacturing, defense, telecommunications, and medicine. Lasers can be made from semiconductors or from gas.
  • Improve the quality and design of fiber optics technology.
  • Devise methods for reducing the cost of manufacturing lasers, optical fibers, and fiber optics.

In the space industry, photonics plays a vital role in enabling critical functions such as high-speed communication, precise imaging, and advanced scientific research. Lasers and photonic systems are used to transmit vast amounts of data between satellites and ground stations with higher efficiency and lower latency than traditional radio frequency systems. This capability is essential for interplanetary missions, real-time spacecraft communication, and Earth observation data transmission.

Photonics also powers lidar systems (light detection and ranging), which are used to map planetary surfaces, guide spacecraft landings, and analyze atmospheric compositions on other planets. Additionally, photonics is used in spectrometry instruments that study the chemical composition of celestial objects, enabling discoveries about the origins and conditions of the universe.

As the demand for more efficient, faster, and precise space technologies continues to grow, photonics engineers are at the forefront of advancing tools and systems that support space exploration, satellite technology, and Earth observation. They ensure that photonic systems can withstand the harsh environments of space, such as extreme temperatures, radiation, and vacuum conditions. The integration of photonics into the space industry is revolutionizing how we communicate, navigate, and explore the final frontier.

Work Environment

Most photonics engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Some engineers travel extensively to plants or work sites, both in the U.S. and abroad. Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week. At times, however, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to a job, requiring engineers to work longer hours.

More Information

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