What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Engineers, All Other in the U.S. earn more than $122,930 a year — the middle 80% land between $66,810 and $189,950. About 154,070 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Engineers, All Other”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$122,930typical pay / year
154,070people in this work
$189,950+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing3
Test photonic components or systems
+Run the acceptance test on the new 1550 nm optical amplifier module with the temperature chamber profile,…
Test photonic components or systems
+Run the acceptance test on the new 1550 nm optical amplifier module with the temperature chamber profile, record insertion loss, return loss, gain and noise figure over the specified power range, flag failures and attach raw traces to the test report for review by Maria in manufacturing by Thursday.
The tools that do the workLinuxESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Simulate and model optical systems
+Build a beam-path model of the compact spectrometer, sweep wavelength 400–1000 nm and aperture sizes, extract…
Simulate and model optical systems
+Build a beam-path model of the compact spectrometer, sweep wavelength 400–1000 nm and aperture sizes, extract spot diagrams and MTF curves, then compare modeled throughput to last quarter's measured data and summarise discrepancies for the design review.
The tools that do the workC++job descriptionsO*NET
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Analyze system performance or operational requirements
+Evaluate the prototype LiDAR unit's range, angular resolution and SNR against the spec sheet, produce a…
Analyze system performance or operational requirements
+Evaluate the prototype LiDAR unit's range, angular resolution and SNR against the spec sheet, produce a sensitivity map across operating conditions, quantify margins and write recommended adjustments for the firmware and optics to meet the customer spec.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work17
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
+Scan the latest journal table of contents on fiber lasers and integrated photonics, pull the three most…
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
+Scan the latest journal table of contents on fiber lasers and integrated photonics, pull the three most relevant papers, summarise findings and open questions in one page, then schedule a 45-minute discussion with Priya and Marco next Tuesday to compare notes.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Train operators, engineers, or other personnel.
+Build a one-hour hands-on session for operators covering laser safety, fibre handling, and connectorisation,…
Train operators, engineers, or other personnel.
+Build a one-hour hands-on session for operators covering laser safety, fibre handling, and connectorisation, create a short laminated checklist and a 15-question competency quiz, then book the factory training room for Friday and invite Alex, Sam and the two shift leads.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Analyze, fabricate, or test fiber-optic links.
+Run the end-to-end link test on the new single-mode cable batch: measure insertion loss, return loss and OTDR…
Analyze, fabricate, or test fiber-optic links.
+Run the end-to-end link test on the new single-mode cable batch: measure insertion loss, return loss and OTDR trace, log results against serial numbers, flag any links failing spec and prepare a short corrective action plan for manufacturing tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workLinuxO*NET
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Develop laser-processed designs, such as laser-cut medical devices.
+Design laser cutting patterns for the new disposable medical probe, verify critical tolerances and edge…
Develop laser-processed designs, such as laser-cut medical devices.
+Design laser cutting patterns for the new disposable medical probe, verify critical tolerances and edge quality for biocompatible stainless, produce a prototype set, then bring the samples to regulatory for material and cleaning validation on Thursday.
The tools that do the workDassault Systemes SolidWorksO*NET
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Oversee or provide expertise on manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication processes.
+Review the assembly line layout and process flow for the optic subassembly, identify three choke points…
Oversee or provide expertise on manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication processes.
+Review the assembly line layout and process flow for the optic subassembly, identify three choke points causing rework, specify fixture or process changes, and present a prioritized action plan with cost estimates at Friday’s production review.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADO*NET
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Test and troubleshoot prototypes and components
+Take the new amplifier prototype to the bench, verify bias currents, capture spectrum and noise figure,…
Test and troubleshoot prototypes and components
+Take the new amplifier prototype to the bench, verify bias currents, capture spectrum and noise figure, troubleshoot the oscillation seen at 2.1 GHz by logging scope traces and component temperatures, then write a one-page bug report for the design team.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Analyse test data
+Analyse the wafer interferometer and photodiode time-series from last night's test, compute signal-to-noise…
Analyse test data
+Analyse the wafer interferometer and photodiode time-series from last night's test, compute signal-to-noise and drift over the 8-hour run, flag points outside three sigma, and produce a one-page summary with recommended re-test steps by Wednesday.
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Design drawings
+Produce updated mechanical and optical assembly drawings for the 10 mm lens holder showing critical datums,…
Design drawings
+Produce updated mechanical and optical assembly drawings for the 10 mm lens holder showing critical datums, tolerance stack for lens seating, and parts list so procurement can quote by Friday.
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Conduct quality control analysis
+Run quality-control analysis on batch 42 optics: compare measured surface profile and transmitted wavefront…
Conduct quality control analysis
+Run quality-control analysis on batch 42 optics: compare measured surface profile and transmitted wavefront error against specification, log nonconformances, calculate Cp and Cpk, and recommend disposition for each lot by end of day.
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Read engineering drawings
+Review the mechanical and optical drawings for the prototype scanner, verify critical dimensions, note any…
Read engineering drawings
+Review the mechanical and optical drawings for the prototype scanner, verify critical dimensions, note any missing tolerances or conflicting callouts, and send a marked list of required changes to Ravi in mechanical by Thursday morning.
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Design optical prototypes
+Design a bench-top optical prototype for the 1550 nm fiber collimator: specify lens types, spacing,…
Design optical prototypes
+Design a bench-top optical prototype for the 1550 nm fiber collimator: specify lens types, spacing, mechanical mountings, and alignment procedure, produce parts list and rough BOM so we can order parts by next Tuesday.
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Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams
+Join the systems integration meeting with mechanical, firmware and test leads, review the interferometer…
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams
+Join the systems integration meeting with mechanical, firmware and test leads, review the interferometer alignment notes and PCB interface concerns, assign action owners for thermal and EMI risks, and send a one-page summary by Friday to Sara in systems and Raj in test.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Evaluate new materials and techniques
+Run bench trials on the two candidate coating materials, collect scattering and throughput numbers across…
Evaluate new materials and techniques
+Run bench trials on the two candidate coating materials, collect scattering and throughput numbers across 400–1600 nm, compare against the delivery spec and the literature-based tolerances, then recommend one material and process changes to Miguel in manufacturing by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Conduct research
+Design and log the experimental plan for the next three weeks: objectives, required optics, test rig…
Conduct research
+Design and log the experimental plan for the next three weeks: objectives, required optics, test rig configurations, acceptance criteria and safety notes, then circulate it to Priya in photonics research and Tom in test before Monday so we can book lab time.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Conduct literature research
+Search recent journals and conference proceedings for low-loss waveguide fabrication and femtosecond…
Conduct literature research
+Search recent journals and conference proceedings for low-loss waveguide fabrication and femtosecond polishing studies, extract methodologies, key performance numbers and citations into a one-page brief, and send it to Laura in R&D and Mark the PI by Tuesday.
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Approve engineering design
+Review the optical assembly drawings, confirm tolerances, thermal deformation calculations and connector…
Approve engineering design
+Review the optical assembly drawings, confirm tolerances, thermal deformation calculations and connector pinouts meet system requirements, sign off or list mandatory changes, and notify engineering procurement and Alison in production within 48 hours.
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Optical manufacturing process
+Set up the polishing run sheet: process steps, lap pressures, abrasive grades, inspection points and expected…
Optical manufacturing process
+Set up the polishing run sheet: process steps, lap pressures, abrasive grades, inspection points and expected yields, run a pilot on two blanks, record surface roughness and form metrics, then update the work instruction and send results to Jose in manufacturing.
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Says who?
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses