Skip to main content
Moog Inc logo

Staff Optics Engineer

Moog Inc

Blacksburg, VAFull-time$120–180K/yrPosted 1mo agoStill listed today

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$120–180K/yr
Location
Blacksburg, VA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Security clearance, requiredBachelor's degree, required

Job overview

Moog seeks a Staff Optics Engineer to lead the design, development, testing, and support of fiber-optic, laser, and electro-optic technologies for aerospace and defense applications. The role supports new product development and existing products across their lifecycle, serving as an optical systems subject matter expert and collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams. The position is onsite in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Optical System Design, requiredZemax, requiredFiber-Optic Technology, requiredLaser Systems, requiredOptical Alignment, requiredImaging Systems, requiredTechnical Documentation, requiredTest Procedure Development, requiredManufacturing Processes, requiredLaser Standards, requiredFiber-Optic Standards, requiredOptical Manufacturing, requiredOptical Troubleshooting, requiredCommunication, requiredCollaboration, requiredFiber-Optic Rotary Joints, nice to haveOptical Switches, nice to haveMulti-Fiber Harnesses, nice to haveHigh-Power Optical Devices, nice to haveProduction Support, nice to haveSilicon Micromachining, nice to haveMEMS, nice to have

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Physics, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, or Related, required7+ Years Optical System Experience, requiredU.S. DoD Security Clearance Eligibility, requiredU.S. Export-Controlled Information Access, requiredPhD in Physics, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, or Related, nice to haveLaser Safety Officer Experience or Certification, nice to have

Benefits

401(k) Match
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave
Relocation Assistance
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Tuition Assistance

Full job description

Moog is a performance culture that empowers people to achieve great things. Our people enjoy solving interesting technical challenges in a culture where everyone trusts each other to do the right thing. For you, working with us can mean deeper job satisfaction, better rewards, and a great quality of life inside and outside of work.

Job Title: Staff Optics Engineer Reporting To: Principal Engineer / Elec. Eng. Mgr & Innov. Team Lead Work Schedule: Onsite – Blacksburg, VAStaff Optics Engineer

Moog Space & Defense Group is the operating group with the longest heritage at Moog. Our expansive defense portfolio is aligned with U.S. military priorities and our mission of equipping those who defend freedom.

As a Staff Optics Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader responsible for the design, development, testing, and support of advanced fiber-optic, laser, and electro-optic technologies used in mission-critical aerospace and defense applications. You will leverage deep expertise in optical systems and fiber-optic technologies to develop innovative solutions while supporting both new product development and existing products throughout their lifecycle.

To be considered for Staff Optics Engineer, you will need:

  • Bachelor’s degree in physics, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

  • Minimum 7 years of experience in optical system design, development, and testing.

  • Significant experience using Zemax for optical design, simulation, and optimization.

  • Experience developing and integrating fiber-optic technologies and devices.

  • Strong understanding of laser systems, optical alignment techniques, and imaging-based systems.

  • Experience creating technical documentation, test procedures, and manufacturing processes.

  • Knowledge of applicable standards related to lasers, fiber-optics, and optical manufacturing processes.

  • Ability to troubleshoot complex optical and electro-optical systems.

  • Strong communication and collaboration skills.

  • Ability to obtain a U.S. DoD Security Clearance and access U.S. export-controlled information.

Preferred Qualifications

  • PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, or a related field.

  • Experience with fiber-optic rotary joints, optical switches, multi-fiber harnesses, and high-power optical devices.

  • Experience supporting manufacturing and production environments.

  • Experience developing manufacturing processes for silicon micromachined devices and/or MEMS-based technologies.

  • Laser Safety Officer experience or certification.

As a Staff Optics Engineer, you will:

  • Develop advanced fiber-optic technologies, including fiber-optic rotary joints, optical switches, high-power optical devices, and multi-fiber harnesses.

  • Serve as the subject matter expert for optical systems, techniques, and devices supporting the Power and Data Division.

  • Design, build, test, and troubleshoot optical, laser, and imaging-based systems.

  • Develop innovative methods and techniques for precision optical alignment and integration.

  • Use Zemax software to design, simulate, analyze, and optimize optical systems.

  • Create and maintain processes, test protocols, work instructions, and documentation for fiber-optic connector terminations and harness assemblies.

  • Establish and formalize work processes that comply with applicable standards and best practices related to lasers, fiber optics, and silicon processing.

  • Determine laser safety classifications for laser devices and support the site Laser Safety Officer as the on-site Laser Safety Specialist.

  • Evaluate, specify, and procure equipment required for fiber-optic device fabrication, assembly, and testing.

  • Support production, qualification, and fielded electro-optic and fiber-optic products by investigating and resolving technical issues.

  • Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams throughout product development and production.

  • Contribute to the development and transition of new optical technologies into manufacturing.

How We Care for You:

  • Financial Rewards: Great compensation package, bonus opportunities, matching 401(k), and the ability to participate in Employee Stock Purchase Plan (select locations), Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.

  • Work/Life Balance: Flexible paid time off, holidays and parental leave program, relocation assistance.

  • Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), and other supplemental benefit coverages.

  • Professional Skills Development: Tuition assistance, mentorship and coaching opportunities, leadership development and other personal growth programs.

  • Culture: Warm, respectful, family-like environment driven by our 12 core values. Multiple Employee Resource Groups led by our employees, open and welcoming to all.

  • Flexible Friday Afternoon’s.

#LI-Onsite #MM1

Salary Range Transparency: Blacksburg, VA $120,000.00–$180,000.00 Annually Salary Range Disclaimer The base salary range represents the low and high end of the Moog salary range for this position in the given work location. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range(s) listed is just one component of Moog's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, employee stock purchase plan, an open paid time off policy, and many region-specific benefits.

This position requires access to U.S. export-controlled information.

Moog offers an inclusive workplace, and, as such, affirms the right of every person to participate in all aspects of employment based on merit without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. If you are interested in applying for employment and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, contact our Human Resources department via phone at 844-367-5787.

No unsolicited agency submittals please. Agency partners must be invited to participate in a search by our Talent Acquisition Team and have signed terms in place prior to any submittal. Absent compliance with these pre-conditions resumes submitted directly to any Moog Inc. employee or affiliate will not qualify for fee payment, and therefore become the property of Moog Inc.

How this job compares

Set against the 434 open Optical Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$120–180K/yr
  • US median$115–201K/yr384 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $150K, is 6% below the US median midpoint ($159K) — in the middle half of Optical Engineer salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 11 open Optical Engineer jobs in Virginia and 434 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most across the US
Experience
This posting asks for at least 7 years of experience — more than three in four Optical Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 377 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 264 of the 434 open Optical Engineer jobs (61%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.