# Photonics Engineers

> Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.

- **SOC code:** 17-2199.07
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-2199-07
- **Also known as:** Laser Engineer, Optical Design Engineer, Optical Engineer, Optical Systems Engineer, Algorithm Developer, Optical Specialist, Optoelectronics Engineer, Research Engineer
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- 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.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Engineering and Technology _(knowledge)_
- Mathematics _(knowledge)_
- Physics _(knowledge)_
- Computers and Electronics _(knowledge)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Information Ordering _(ability)_
- Design _(knowledge)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_
- Writing _(essential_skill)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Physics _(Specialized Skill)_
- Mathematics _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- Active Learning _(Common Skill)_
- Complex Problem Solving _(Common Skill)_
- English Language _(Common Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- C++ _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Python _(hot technology, in demand)_
- The MathWorks MATLAB _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Autodesk AutoCAD _(hot technology)_
- C _(hot technology)_
- C# _(hot technology)_
- ESRI ArcGIS software _(hot technology)_
- Facebook _(hot technology)_
- Go _(hot technology)_
- Linux _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft .NET Framework _(hot technology)_

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 66th percentile (Moderate) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 67th percentile (High) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 60th percentile (Moderate) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 71st percentile (High) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 9th percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** yes — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 2.1% growth (About average); 9.3k annual openings; 158.8k → 162.1k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $117,750; 150,750 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 26% automation, 64% augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 4.0 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** learning.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Analyze system performance or operational requirements. _(6.3% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Write reports or research proposals. _(3.5% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components. _(0.7% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components. _(0.6% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Conduct research on new photonics technologies. _(0.5% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Document design processes including objectives, issues, and outcomes. _(0.4% of measured AI use; task iteration)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me analyze system performance or operational requirements.
- Help me write reports or research proposals.
- Help me design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
- Help me conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.
- Help me conduct research on new photonics technologies.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-2199-07_