Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2199.07
Photonics Engineers
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
- US jobs
- 154,070 (SOC 17-2199 group, "Engineers, All Other")
- Median wage
- $122,930 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of photonics engineers?
We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Architecture and engineering:
- Task levelUnexploredNo task-level benchmark in our collection tests architecture or engineering design work, such as CAD modeling or engineering calculations.
- Project levelNot yetWhole projects are mostly out of reach. The Remote Labor Index includes 3D, CAD, and architecture projects; across all its projects, the best agent completed 15.8% to a standard a client would accept. GDPval includes mechanical engineers, and its deliverables score higher, but those tasks are one-shot and fully specified.
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
- 1846 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort, Default Fallback) · 23 Sep 2026Unrated
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- 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.
Other job titles for this occupation (23)
Algorithm Developer · Laser Engineer · Optical Design Engineer · Optical Engineer · Optical Specialist · Optical Systems Engineer · Optoelectronics Engineer · Research and Development Engineer (R and D Engineer) · Research Engineer · Display Engineer · DWDM Optical Network Engineer (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Optical Network Engineer) · Electro-optical Engineer · Electro-optics Engineer · Engineer · Fiber Optics Engineer · Laser Systems Engineer · Optical Manufacturing Engineer · Optical Network Engineer · Optical Test Engineer · Optics Engineer · Opto-Mechanical Engineer · Optomechanical Engineer · Photonics Engineer