What Do Photonics Engineer Do?
Career Description Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
Life As a Photonics Engineer: What Do They Do?
- Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
- Assist in the transition of photonic prototypes to production.
- Develop photonics sensing or manufacturing technologies to improve the efficiency of manufacturing or related processes.
- Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
- 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.
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Photonics Engineer Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Photonics Engineers say are important on the job.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Other Photonics Engineer Job Titles
- Optical Systems Engineer
- Algorithm Developer
- Laser Engineer
- Optical Engineer
- Optical Specialist
Job Outlook for Photonics Engineers
In the United States, there were 132,500 jobs for Photonics Engineer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,500 new jobs for Photonics Engineer by 2026. The BLS estimates 9,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Photonics Engineer are Nevada, Utah, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Minnesota, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Photonics Engineer Make?
The typical yearly salary for Photonics Engineers is somewhere between $50,750 and $155,650.
Photonics Engineers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Photonics Engineers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $115,710 |
| Alaska | $114,040 |
| Arizona | $94,450 |
| Arkansas | $71,510 |
| California | $107,700 |
| Colorado | $111,610 |
| Connecticut | $100,230 |
| District of Columbia | $132,530 |
| Florida | $82,970 |
| Georgia | $93,580 |
| Hawaii | $96,940 |
| Idaho | $110,270 |
| Illinois | $87,220 |
| Indiana | $73,340 |
| Iowa | $78,230 |
| Kansas | $82,060 |
| Kentucky | $79,690 |
| Louisiana | $90,580 |
| Maine | $85,800 |
| Maryland | $118,420 |
| Massachusetts | $109,220 |
| Michigan | $90,420 |
| Minnesota | $101,620 |
| Mississippi | $79,630 |
| Missouri | $86,850 |
| Montana | $79,590 |
| Nebraska | $82,760 |
| Nevada | $94,950 |
| New Hampshire | $99,070 |
| New Jersey | $114,990 |
| New Mexico | $114,790 |
| New York | $95,270 |
| North Carolina | $83,900 |
| North Dakota | $83,270 |
| Ohio | $93,370 |
| Oklahoma | $83,080 |
| Oregon | $90,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,550 |
| Rhode Island | $95,790 |
| South Carolina | $100,750 |
| South Dakota | $84,320 |
| Tennessee | $82,030 |
| Texas | $113,370 |
| Utah | $89,810 |
| Vermont | $81,960 |
| Virginia | $118,390 |
| Washington | $104,890 |
| West Virginia | $91,420 |
| Wisconsin | $86,600 |
| Wyoming | $97,040 |
What Tools & Technology do Photonics Engineers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Photonics Engineers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Python
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Visio
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- C
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Wolfram Research Mathematica
- Microsoft .NET Framework
- Mathsoft Mathcad
- C#
- C++
- Pattern recognition software
- Spectroscopy software
Becoming a Photonics Engineer
What kind of Photonics Engineer requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Photonics Engineer?
Where Photonics Engineers Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Career changers with experience as a Photonics Engineer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: NASA via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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