# Competences — photonics engineering technician Source: ESCO v1.2.1 occupation-skill relations (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/250d6493-68ab-4d69-ba67-c10293a20f49). ## Essential - **adjust engineering designs** (skill/competence) - **align components** (skill/competence) - **apply optical coating** (skill/competence) - **assemble optoelectronics** (skill/competence) - **assist scientific research** (skill/competence) - **clean optical components** (skill/competence) - **design drawings** (knowledge) - **fasten components** (skill/competence) - **inspect quality of products** (skill/competence) - **lasers** (knowledge) - **liaise with engineers** (skill/competence) - **mount optical components on frames** (skill/competence) - **operate optical assembly equipment** (skill/competence) - **optical components** (knowledge) - **optical engineering** (knowledge) - **optical equipment standards** (knowledge) - **optical glass characteristics** (knowledge) - **optical manufacturing process** (knowledge) - **optics** (knowledge) - **optoelectronics** (knowledge) - **perform test run** (skill/competence) - **photonics** (knowledge) - **prepare production prototypes** (skill/competence) - **read engineering drawings** (skill/competence) - **record test data** (skill/competence) - **refractive power** (knowledge) - **test optical components** (skill/competence) - **types of optical instruments** (knowledge) ## Optional - apply technical communication skills (skill/competence) - CAD software (knowledge) - CAE software (knowledge) - calibrate optical instruments (skill/competence) - computational mechanics (knowledge) - digital camera sensors (knowledge) - electromagnetic spectrum (knowledge) - electronics (knowledge) - electrooptic devices (knowledge) - engineering principles (knowledge) - fibre optics (knowledge) - firmware (knowledge) - inspect optical supplies (skill/competence) - integrate new products in manufacturing (skill/competence) - interpret circuit diagrams (skill/competence) - keep records of work progress (skill/competence) - maintain optical equipment (skill/competence) - mechanics (knowledge) - microoptics (knowledge) - microprocessors (knowledge) - microsensors (knowledge) - MOEM (knowledge) - monitor machine operations (skill/competence) - optoelectronic devices (knowledge) - optomechanical components (knowledge) - printed circuit boards (knowledge) - program firmware (skill/competence) - quantum technology (knowledge) - resolve equipment malfunctions (skill/competence) - semiconductors (knowledge) - sensors (knowledge) - use CAM software (skill/competence) - write technical reports (skill/competence) ## Market evidence (job-ad analysis, 15 ads, as of 2026-07-18) Share of analyzed job ads mentioning the item (threshold ≥ 20 %). Source: JSearch/Adzuna APIs. ### Hard skills - mechanical assembly — **27 %** - metal soldering — **20 %** - microscopy — **20 %** - optical alignment — **20 %** - optical fiber splicing — **20 %** - photonic circuit fabrication — **20 %** - profilometry — **20 %** - equipment calibration — **20 %** ### Responsibilities - fabrication — **20 %** - inspection — **20 %** - integration — **20 %** - assembly — **20 %** - testing — **20 %** - workspace organization — **20 %**