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Photonics Engineers

$111,970 Median Wage (2023)

10,100 Projected job openings (2023-2033)

5.00% Projected growth (2023-2033)

Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Detailed Work Activities

Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects.
Operate industrial equipment.
Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
Fabricate devices or components.
Design electronic or computer equipment or instrumentation.
Identify new applications for existing technologies.
Research advanced engineering designs or applications.
Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
Create physical models or prototypes.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Maintain operational records or records systems.
Document technical design details.
Direct industrial production activities.
Update technical knowledge.
Train personnel on proper operational procedures.
Design energy production or management equipment or systems.
Design industrial processing systems.
Prepare research or technical reports.
Write reports or evaluations.
Prepare proposal documents.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
Develop optical or imaging systems, such as optical imaging products, optical components, image processes, signal process technologies, or optical systems.
Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
Assist in the transition of photonic prototypes to production.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
Write reports or proposals related to photonics research or development projects.
Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.
Determine applications of photonics appropriate to meet product objectives or features.
Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
Design electro-optical sensing or imaging systems.
Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes.
Design photonics products, such as light sources, displays, or photovoltaics, to achieve increased energy efficiency.
Train operators, engineers, or other personnel.
Analyze, fabricate, or test fiber-optic links.
Design gas lasers, solid state lasers, infrared, or other light emitting or light sensitive devices.
Create or maintain photonic design histories.
Oversee or provide expertise on manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication processes.
Determine commercial, industrial, scientific, or other uses for electro-optical applications or devices.
Design solar energy photonics or other materials or devices to generate energy.
Design or redesign optical fibers to minimize energy loss.
Develop photonics sensing or manufacturing technologies to improve the efficiency of manufacturing or related processes.
Develop laser-processed designs, such as laser-cut medical devices.
Design or develop new crystals for photonics applications.
Design laser machining equipment for purposes such as high-speed ablation.
Select, purchase, set up, operate, or troubleshoot state-of-the-art laser cutting equipment.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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