Photonics engineer
A photonics engineer, also known as an electro-optics engineer, specializes in harnessing light for various technological applications. This field emerged in the mid-20th century, particularly following the invention of the laser in 1960, and has since revolutionized telecommunications with fiber-optic information transmission. Photonics engineers work in diverse sectors, including telecommunications, medical technology, and consumer electronics, designing systems for high-speed data transmission and developing laser applications in fields like LASIK surgery and diagnostics.
To pursue a career in this area, individuals typically need a bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline, with specialized programs available at certain universities. The average salary for photonics engineers was around $104,600 in 2022, though earnings can vary widely based on industry, experience, and location. While job growth in this field is projected to be slower than average, its expanding applications, such as lidar technology and potential advancements in optical computing, suggest ongoing opportunities for innovation and career development.
Photonics engineer
Earnings (Yearly Median): $104,600 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
Employment and Outlook: Little or no change (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021-31)
O*NET-SOC Code: 17-2199.07
Related Career Clusters: Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications; Information Technology; Manufacturing
Scope of Work
Photonics engineers, sometimes called electro-optics engineers, harness light to use in a variety of applications. Some engineers use it as a means to transmit packets of information across vast distances at increasingly high speeds. Others develop the lasers used in laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery and optical diagnostics, allowing doctors to correct vision or identify internal medical issues. Photonics engineers are also responsible for the development of many high-tech consumer products, including digital cameras and high-definition televisions.
The word “photonics” comes from the photon, the elementary particle that gives light its dual wave-particle nature. Photonics as a field of study developed in the mid-twentieth century, beginning with the invention of the laser in 1960. The science revolutionized the telecommunications industry with the advent of fiber-optic information transmission in the 1970s. Within decades, laser-powered fiber-optic cables became able to transmit information in the form of light through strands of glass as thin as human hair.
Education and Coursework
An entry-level photonics position requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline. Many universities with robust science programs offer a photonics specialization within a broader major. Some schools, such as Boston University, have dedicated photonics centers and curricula. The typical coursework for a four-year degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or engineering science lends well to a future in photonics. Aspiring engineers should be well-versed in computer-assisted design and manufacturing (CADM).
Most photonics workers start as lab assistants to more experienced engineers. From there, it is possible to advance to management, research, and principal positions, dependent on an engineer’s strengths. Upper-level lasers and fiber optics positions typically require an advanced degree, which can be attained through a university graduate engineering program or a dedicated photonics and optics college. The University of Central Florida in Orlando operates one such specialized graduate school, the College of Optics and Photonics. The program is renowned within the industry and encompasses three research branches: the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers, the Townes Laser Institute, and the Florida Photonics Center for Excellence.
Career Enhancement and Training
Membership in a professional organization can provide photonics engineers with numerous opportunities for career enhancement and additional training. Founded in 1955 as the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers, later the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, and now known primarily by its acronym, SPIE is the leading international trade group for photonic and optical research and technology. SPIE works to advance light-based technology through industry collaboration, exhibitions, grants, and continuing education. Membership in SPIE provides engineers with invaluable networking opportunities and connections throughout all field sectors.
Recruitment and job placement services are available for those looking to break into the photonics industry. Some recruitment firms offer contingency recruitment, temporary placement, and referral services and work with high-profile clients, including military contractors developing ground, air, and marine laser, infrared, and night vision systems.
Daily Tasks and Technology
The daily tasks and necessary technical abilities of photonics engineers are as varied as the applications of the science. A large subset of photonics engineers are employed in telecommunications, working with fiber-optic cables and other optical information systems. Fiber-optic cables are insulated clusters of glass strands that transmit light signals. Various technologies, from telephone systems to cable television, use fiber-optic lines to send pieces of digital information.
The optical fiber medium of information relay came into popular use due to the speeds at which signals could be sent long distances with minimal signal decay. In a fiber-optic system, a transmitter produces and encodes information as an optical signal and sends the information to its intended target via optical fibers. Signal loss inevitably occurs along the way, so optical regenerators are intermittently positioned along the fiber-optic cable to recharge the signal. An optical regenerator uses lasers to amplify weakened incoming signals, retaining their characteristics and sending them on with renewed strength. At the end of the cable is an optical receiver that decodes and converts the light signal into an electrical one to be sent to the receiving computer, phone, television, or other device. Photonics engineers may be responsible for designing, manufacturing, and maintaining the equipment used at every stage of the fiber-optic transmission process.
Some photonics engineers may design and develop laser systems used in manufacturing or in medicine. Lasers are used for a wide variety of medical procedures, including surgeries and cancer treatment, and the demand for new applications is always rising. When used correctly, clinical lasers can treat conditions with minimal discomfort, no risk of infection or scarring, and limited side effects.
Earnings and Employment Outlook
Photonics engineering positions are available in a diverse array of fields. The telecommunications, medical, and information management industries are perhaps the most visible options for a job-seeking photonics engineer, but entertainment, mining, and public administration also offer positions with high earning potential. The average salary for photonics engineers was $104,600 in 2022. Salaries vary by experience, industry, and sector—photonics engineers working in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industries tend to earn the highest median wages, while median salaries for those working in healthcare and social assistance are lowest. Salary levels also vary by geographical location.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs within the electrical and electronics engineering field—a category that includes photonics—are expected to increase by 2 percent between 2018 and 2028, slower than the average projected growth for all occupations. In 2022, this prediction was held true, and scientists continued to expect little growth. This is partly a result of anticipated slow growth in manufacturing and telecommunications.
Related Occupations
• Electrical Engineers: Electrical engineers study electricity, electromagnetism, and their applications in infrastructure, telecommunications, signal processing, and other fields.
• Aerospace Engineers: Aerospace engineers design and construct aircraft, spacecraft, and related technology, such as rockets and satellites.
• Nuclear Engineers: Nuclear engineers study and apply subatomic physics, using the fission and fusion of atomic nuclei to various ends.
• Materials Scientists: Materials scientists develop metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites for use by other engineers in the design and construction of machinery, consumer goods, and other products.
• Laser Technicians: Laser technicians operate laser technology for various purposes, typically in the medical field.
Future Applications
The sheer versatility of light as a means of information management suggests that the field of photonics engineering will continue to expand as new applications develop. Such applications may include mapping through the use of lidar (initially a portmanteau of "light" and "radar," now short for "light detection and ranging"). Lidar is used in everything from agricultural robots to autonomous vehicles to creating three-dimensional models of storm damage.
In keeping with the prevailing trend in technology development, many photonics engineers will likely continue to look for ways to make the systems they design smaller. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) opened its Microphotonics Center in 2000 to research ways of miniaturizing optical communication components for use in smaller and higher-functioning computing and telecommunication systems. Data routers equipped with microphotonic—and even nanophotonic—components would eliminate electronic bottlenecks, allowing for a smoother flow of information and increased network speed. A possible future application is even photonic or optical computing, in which photons rather than electrons are used to transmit data.
Bibliography
"Electrical and Electronics Engineers." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept. of Labor, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm. Accessed 26 Sept. 2023.
"Photonics Engineers 17-2199.07." O*NET OnLine. Employment and Training Administration, US Dept. of Labor, 29 Aug. 2023, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2199.07. Accessed 26 Sept. 2023.