Photonics technicians work in jobs where they assemble, measure, test, and repair optical components such as lenses, mirrors, filters, fiber optics and electro-optic or other photonics devices plus optical sources such as lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Technicians Specialists work in areas that utilize the skills and knowledge of the Operator Level, but also an additional higher level of optics, photonics physics and technology and that require a greater variety of hands-on competencies in laser and optical components and systems. They typically work in applications such as the following: research and development laboratory; product development, test, and production specialists who are team members for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of lasers, optics, and photonics components and systems; field service specialists for OEMs or companies that manufacture and/or utilize lasers, optics, and photonics components and systems. They are graduates of AAS degree programs that focus specifically on optics, lasers and photonics.
