Optical and Photonics Engineer Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Tucson is home to the University of Arizona's Wyant College of Optical Sciences, and optical and photonics engineers here work for defense, instrument and research employers close to it. Raytheon, Edmund Optics and the UA's own Mirror Lab all hire, with posted ranges from about $69,000 to $181,000. Current openings are below.

Optical and Photonics Engineer Work in Tucson

Most optics hiring in Tucson falls into three groups. The biggest is defense: Raytheon's electro-optical teams on its campus off East Hermans Road, south of Tucson International Airport, design, analyze and support the optical hardware that goes into its missile systems, and those postings ask for U.S. citizenship and a DoD Secret clearance. The second is commercial optics and metrology, where Edmund Optics and the 4D Technology group of Onto Innovation build, align and test precision optical systems and measurement instruments. The third is research, centered on the University of Arizona campus north of downtown, where Steward Observatory's Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab grinds and polishes telescope mirrors up to 8.4 meters across.

The Wyant College ties the three together. Local employers recruit its graduates, and the same tools show up again and again in Tucson postings: Code V and Zemax for design, MATLAB for analysis, and lab time on alignment and measurement equipment. The work leans hands-on. Even senior roles ask for experience assembling, aligning and testing multi-element optical systems, not just modeling them.

Top Tucson Employers for Optical and Photonics Engineers

These Tucson employers hire optical and photonics engineers:

• Raytheon (RTX) - electro-optical design, analysis and production hardware support on the Hermans Road campus; U.S. citizenship and a Secret clearance are required.
• Edmund Optics - optical design and integration and test engineering for precision optical assemblies at its Tucson facility.
• University of Arizona - optical fabrication, metrology and instrument engineering at Steward Observatory and the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab.
• Onto Innovation (4D Technology) - optical metrology instruments; its Tucson group has hired optical engineering interns for prototype, alignment and test work.

Optical and Photonics Engineer Salaries in Tucson

• Entry level (0-3 years): roughly $70,000 to $90,000 per year.
• Experienced (4-9 years): roughly $95,000 to $130,000 per year.
• Senior or principal (10+ years): roughly $125,000 to $180,000 per year.

These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. For reference, a 2026 Raytheon Optical Engineer II posting in Tucson listed $68,900 to $131,100, a 2026 Edmund Optics senior integration and test posting listed $110,000 to $125,000, and a University of Arizona senior optical fabrication engineer role at the Mirror Lab listed $139,102 to $180,833. A graduate degree, an active clearance and hands-on alignment experience move pay up the most.

How to Become an Optical and Photonics Engineer in Tucson

The local degree is the University of Arizona's BS in Optical Sciences and Engineering, taught through the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, which also runs graduate programs. Physics, electrical and mechanical engineering graduates with optics coursework are hired too, especially for optomechanical and test roles. Students who start at Pima Community College can take the Pre-Engineering concentration at West Campus and transfer to the UA. Arizona has no separate optical engineering license. The Arizona State Board of Technical Registration registers professional engineers, but the Tucson optics postings reviewed ask for a STEM degree and experience, not a PE. Raytheon roles also require U.S. citizenship and a DoD Secret clearance, or the ability to get an interim one.

What the Job Involves

Design days are spent in Code V or Zemax laying out a lens or sensor, running tolerance analysis and working with mechanical engineers on mounts. Lab days mean building and aligning hardware, measuring it on interferometers and other test equipment, and tracking down why measured performance misses the model. Integration and test engineers also write test plans and acceptance procedures and lead root-cause investigations when something fails.

Skills Employers Look For

• Optical design software, especially Code V and Zemax
• Electro-optical analysis and laboratory optical measurement
• Hands-on assembly, alignment and testing of multi-element optical systems
• Optical metrology, including interferometry
• MATLAB or Python for analysis and test automation
• Test plans, requirements and clear technical writing
• U.S. citizenship and clearance eligibility for defense roles

Career Path and Advancement

A typical Tucson path runs from optical engineer I or II to senior and principal engineer. Raytheon's ladder rewards engineers who hold an active clearance, while Edmund Optics and the instrument makers offer a route into integration, test and product leadership. Research engineers at Steward Observatory can grow into lead fabrication and metrology roles on large mirror and instrument projects. Many optical engineers also move into systems engineering once they have led the optical design on a program.

Related Careers in Tucson

These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for optical engineers:

• Systems Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Aerospace Engineer

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need an optics degree to get an optical engineering job in Tucson?

Not always. The University of Arizona's BS in Optical Sciences and Engineering is the most direct route, but Tucson postings also accept physics and other STEM degrees with relevant experience. Optomechanical and test roles often go to mechanical and electrical engineers who learned optics on the job.

How much do optical engineers make in Tucson?

Expect roughly $70,000 to $90,000 to start, $95,000 to $130,000 with experience, and up to about $180,000 at the senior level. Posted 2026 ranges include $68,900 to $131,100 for a Raytheon Optical Engineer II and $110,000 to $125,000 for a senior integration and test role at Edmund Optics. These are estimates that vary by employer.

Do Tucson optics jobs require a security clearance?

The defense jobs do. Raytheon's Tucson optical postings require U.S. citizenship and an active DoD Secret clearance or the ability to get an interim one. Edmund Optics has asked for U.S. citizenship or permanent residence, and the commercial and university employers are the main options if you cannot hold a clearance.

What software should you learn for optics jobs in Tucson?

Code V and Zemax come up most often in Tucson postings. Add MATLAB or Python for analysis and automation. Experience with alignment and measurement equipment matters as much as software, and senior postings ask for it directly.

Is there an optical engineering license in Arizona?

No. Arizona has no separate optical engineering license. The Arizona State Board of Technical Registration registers professional engineers, but the Tucson optics postings reviewed ask for a STEM degree and experience rather than a PE.

---

Ready to apply? Browse all optical and photonics engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.