Senior Optical Engineer, R&D
- Pay
- $150,000 – $200,000 per year
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
- Listed
- Today
About the Role
Lead optical system design and technical investigations for a defense technology platform developing autonomous directed-energy systems. You will partner with mechanical and electrical engineers to turn optical designs into robust hardware.
What You'll Do
- Lead optical design and analysis for core system components.
- Run optical investigations and trade studies to guide system-level design decisions.
- Specify and evaluate optical components and subsystem architectures.
- Collaborate with mechanical engineers on optical packaging, housing, and integration.
- Perform tolerance analysis, validate performance, and guide design iterations.
- Lead alignment, characterization, and testing of integrated optical systems.
- Work with vendors and fabricators on manufacturability, tolerancing, and feasibility.
- Establish best practices for optical development, validation, and technical documentation.
What We're Looking for
- 5 to 10 or more years of experience in optical engineering, optical design, or related physics-based systems work.
- Experience designing and analyzing optical systems built and operated as real hardware, including alignment, characterization, and hands-on debugging.
- Ability to lead optical investigations and trade studies, apply optical theory from first principles, and make system-level design decisions.
- Experience with optical component selection, vendor collaboration, tolerance analysis, and performance validation.
- Mechanical fluency for effective collaboration on packaging and integration.
- Experience with high-power laser optics, ruggedized beam delivery, beam directors, collimators, fast steering mirrors, adaptive optics, or laser communications is relevant.
- Familiarity with Zemax/OpticStudio or Code V and approximately 1 micron Yb fiber laser systems is useful.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in optical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
Base salary
$150,000 to $200,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.
Location
On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.
From Clera's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on November 12, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
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Common questions
What is the salary for the Senior Optical Engineer, R&D role at Clera?
The Senior Optical Engineer, R&D posting at Clera states compensation of $150,000 – $200,000 per year. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Clera's official career site.
Where is the Senior Optical Engineer, R&D job at Clera located?
This Senior Optical Engineer, R&D position at Clera is located in San Francisco, CA. Always check Clera's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
How do I apply for the Senior Optical Engineer, R&D position at Clera?
This listing links directly to Clera's Ashby application page. You can apply directly on Clera's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Ashby application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.