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Photonics Engineers

What they do:
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
On the job, you would:
  • Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
  • Develop optical or imaging systems, such as optical imaging products, optical components, image processes, signal process technologies, or optical systems.
  • Analyze system performance or operational requirements.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • product and service development
  • design
Math and Science
  • physics
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products

Skills

Basic Skills
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • reading work related information
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Math
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Ideas and Logic
  • use rules to solve problems
  • notice when problems happen
Verbal
  • communicate by writing
  • listen and understand what people say

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Innovation
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Initiative
  • Integrity

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software
  • Apollo Photonics APSS
  • Optiwave OptiBPM
Analytical or scientific software
  • Adept Scientific GRAMS
  • BPM_CAD
Development environment software
  • C
  • National Instruments LabVIEW

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$90,580
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

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See more details at O*NET OnLine about photonics engineers.