# Competences — optical engineer

Source: ESCO v1.2.1 occupation-skill relations (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/ab3c4d3e-3189-47ad-82af-57cdae3cb589).

## Essential

- **adjust engineering designs** (skill/competence)
- **analyse test data** (skill/competence)
- **approve engineering design** (skill/competence)
- **conduct literature research** (skill/competence)
- **conduct quality control analysis** (skill/competence)
- **demonstrate disciplinary expertise** (skill/competence)
- **design drawings** (knowledge)
- **design optical prototypes** (skill/competence)
- **develop optical test procedures** (skill/competence)
- **engineering principles** (knowledge)
- **interact professionally in research and professional environments** (skill/competence)
- **manage personal professional development** (skill/competence)
- **manage research data** (skill/competence)
- **mathematics** (knowledge)
- **model optical systems** (skill/competence)
- **operate open source software** (skill/competence)
- **operate scientific measuring equipment** (skill/competence)
- **optical components** (knowledge)
- **optical engineering** (knowledge)
- **optical equipment standards** (knowledge)
- **optical glass characteristics** (knowledge)
- **optical manufacturing process** (knowledge)
- **optics** (knowledge)
- **perform project management** (skill/competence)
- **physics** (knowledge)
- **prepare production prototypes** (skill/competence)
- **record test data** (skill/competence)
- **refractive power** (knowledge)
- **report analysis results** (skill/competence)
- **synthesise information** (skill/competence)
- **test optical components** (skill/competence)
- **think abstractly** (skill/competence)
- **types of optical instruments** (knowledge)

## Optional

- acoustics (knowledge)
- apply blended learning (skill/competence)
- apply for research funding (skill/competence)
- apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities (skill/competence)
- apply technical communication skills (skill/competence)
- build business relationships (skill/competence)
- CAE software (knowledge)
- cavity optomechanics (knowledge)
- communicate with a non-scientific audience (skill/competence)
- communicate with customers (skill/competence)
- computer engineering (knowledge)
- conduct research across disciplines (skill/competence)
- control engineering (knowledge)
- coordinate engineering teams (skill/competence)
- create technical plans (skill/competence)
- define manufacturing quality criteria (skill/competence)
- design optical systems (skill/competence)
- develop electronic test procedures (skill/competence)
- develop product design (skill/competence)
- develop professional network with researchers and scientists (skill/competence)
- digital camera sensors (knowledge)
- disseminate results to the scientific community (skill/competence)
- draft bill of materials (skill/competence)
- draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation (skill/competence)
- electromagnetic spectrum (knowledge)
- electronic equipment standards (knowledge)
- electronics (knowledge)
- electrooptic devices (knowledge)
- electrooptics (knowledge)
- evaluate research activities (skill/competence)
- fibre optics (knowledge)
- increase the impact of science on policy and society (skill/competence)
- integrate gender dimension in research (skill/competence)
- interpret circuit diagrams (skill/competence)
- lasers (knowledge)
- maintain optical equipment (skill/competence)
- maintain safe engineering watches (skill/competence)
- manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data (skill/competence)
- manage intellectual property rights (skill/competence)
- manage open publications (skill/competence)
- mechanical engineering (knowledge)
- medical imaging technology (knowledge)
- mentor individuals (skill/competence)
- microelectromechanical systems (knowledge)
- microelectronics (knowledge)
- microoptics (knowledge)
- microprocessors (knowledge)
- microsensors (knowledge)
- microwave principles (knowledge)
- MOEM (knowledge)
- mount optical components on frames (skill/competence)
- operate optical assembly equipment (skill/competence)
- operate precision machinery (skill/competence)
- operate precision measuring equipment (skill/competence)
- optical instruments (knowledge)
- optoelectronic devices (knowledge)
- optoelectronics (knowledge)
- optomechanical components (knowledge)
- optomechanical engineering (knowledge)
- perform data analysis (skill/competence)
- perform resource planning (skill/competence)
- perform scientific research (skill/competence)
- perform test run (skill/competence)
- photonics (knowledge)
- precision mechanics (knowledge)
- prepare assembly drawings (skill/competence)
- promote open innovation in research (skill/competence)
- promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities (skill/competence)
- promote the transfer of knowledge (skill/competence)
- publish academic research (skill/competence)
- quality standards (knowledge)
- quantum optics (knowledge)
- radars (knowledge)
- read engineering drawings (skill/competence)
- resolve equipment malfunctions (skill/competence)
- sell optical products (skill/competence)
- semiconductors (knowledge)
- sensors (knowledge)
- speak different languages (skill/competence)
- teach in academic or vocational contexts (skill/competence)
- telecommunications engineering (knowledge)
- train employees (skill/competence)
- use CAD software (skill/competence)
- use precision tools (skill/competence)
- write scientific publications (skill/competence)

<!-- market-evidence -->

## Market evidence (job-ad analysis, 57 ads, as of 2026-07-18)

Share of analyzed job ads mentioning the item (threshold ≥ 20 %). Source: JSearch/Adzuna APIs.

### Hard skills

- data analysis — **39 %**
- optical system design — **35 %**
- optical design — **19 %**

<!-- market-evidence -->