How to hire an optics and photonics: 34 companies are hiring now
What you compete with, counted from today’s 172 open optics and photonics postings: who is hiring, where, what they pay and how long postings stay up. Then six steps, each with a free template or tool.
- Companies hiring now
- 34
- Open postings
- 172
- Median advertised pay
- $168K
- Remote
- 2%
- Half are open for over
- 60 days
What you compete with
| Companies hiring this work now | 34: SpaceX (47), PsiQuantum (32), Lightmatter (19), QuEra Computing, Inc. (13), Atomcomputing (12), Star Catcher (8) |
|---|---|
| Countries named most | 🇺🇸United States (151), 🇬🇧United Kingdom (7), 🇨🇦Canada (5), 🇫🇷France (2), 🇸🇪Sweden (2) |
| Pay advertised | $140K – $200K for the middle half; median $168K (118 postings with a yearly US-dollar range) |
| Postings that state pay | 73% |
| Where the work is done | Remote 2% · hybrid 2% · on site or not stated 96% |
| Experience asked | Median 3 years |
| Benefits named most | Equity (36%), Parental leave (33%), Unlimited PTO (5%), Visa sponsorship (2%) |
| How long postings stay up | Half of today’s open postings have been up more than 60 days |
Counted from the 172 open postings for this work on Nov 14, 2026, read from employers’ own careers pages and recounted on every update.
Six steps to hire an optics and photonics
- Set the pay range first. Today’s 118 optics and photonics postings that state a yearly US-dollar range offer $140K to $200K for the middle half. Three quarters of them offer more than the lower figure. 73% of the postings state pay; in several US states and EU countries the law requires it. See optics and photonics pay in detail.
- Write the description. Start from the optics and photonics job description template, then check it with the job description checker: the pay, the place of work and the must-haves should be clear before the second paragraph.
- Decide where the person can work. 2% of today’s optics and photonics postings are remote and 2% hybrid. If yours is remote, name the countries or time zones; “remote” alone brings applications you cannot accept.
- Post it where people look. Post the job free on this site, add it to your own careers page and send it to people you know who do this work.
- Screen for the work, not the titles. Ask each candidate to describe a result from similar work, with a number. Score every candidate on the same points with the interview scorecard; the optics and photonics interview questions show what good candidates prepare for.
- Decide quickly. Half of today’s open optics and photonics postings have been up more than 60 days: a candidate who waits for your answer may be talking to other employers meanwhile. Tell every candidate when you will decide, and keep to it.
Questions about hiring optics and photonics engineers
- How much does it cost to hire an optics and photonics?
- The pay is the largest part: today’s optics and photonics postings that state a yearly US-dollar range advertise a median of $168K. Add advertising, agency fees if you use one and the hours your team spends interviewing; the cost per hire calculator on this site adds them up. Posting on this site is free.
- How long does it take to hire an optics and photonics?
- Half of today’s open optics and photonics postings have been up more than 60 days. A posting can close before the person starts, so plan for a few weeks more.
- Where can I find optics and photonics engineers?
- 34 companies are hiring optics and photonics engineers on this site today. Post your job here free, on your own careers page and in communities where optics and photonics engineers meet; the table on this page lists the countries named most in today’s postings.
Everything about optics and photonics work
See also: optics and photonics job description template · 172 open optics and photonics jobs · cost per hire calculator · all hiring guides