What You'll Do

  • Select, purchase, set up, operate, or troubleshoot state-of-the-art laser cutting equipment.
  • Analyze, fabricate, or test fiber-optic links.
  • Design electro-optical sensing or imaging systems.
  • Design laser machining equipment for purposes such as high-speed ablation.
  • Develop laser-processed designs, such as laser-cut medical devices.
  • Determine commercial, industrial, scientific, or other uses for electro-optical applications or devices.
  • Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
  • Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
  • Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
  • Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.

Essential Skills

Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Reading Comprehension 3.88/5
Writing 3.88/5
Active Listening 3.75/5
Speaking 3.62/5
Mathematics 3.62/5
Active Learning 3.62/5
Science 3.5/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.38/5
Operations Analysis 3.25/5
Technology Design 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Analytical Thinking, Attention to Detail, Dependability, Innovation, Integrity

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Information Ordering 4.0/5
Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Written Expression 3.88/5
Mathematical Reasoning 3.88/5
Oral Expression 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Adept Scientific GRAMS Apollo Photonics APSS Autodesk AutoCAD BPM_CAD C C# C++ Computer-aided drafting or design software Dassault Systemes CATIA Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Debugging software ESRI ArcGIS software ESRI software Facebook Finite element analysis FEA software Formula translation/translator FORTRAN Go Linux Mapping software Mathsoft Mathcad

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.57/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.39/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.0/5)
  • Innovation (High importance: 4.0/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.0/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Algorithm Developer DWDM Optical Network Engineer (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Optical Network Engineer) Electro-optical Engineer Electro-optics Engineer Engineer Fiber Optics Engineer Laser Engineer Laser Systems Engineer Optical Design Engineer Optical Engineer Optical Network Engineer Optical Specialist Optical Systems Engineer Optical Test Engineer Optics Engineer Optoelectronics Engineer Optomechanical Engineer Photonics Engineer Research and Development Engineer (R and D Engineer) Research Engineer