Optical engineers make use of optics (study of behaviour of light) to design and build devices through the use of light and optical technology. This requires them to understand and apply the science of light.
Personal Competencies
• You like Science and Maths
• You can use a computer to solve a scientific problem
• You like to do experiments
Entry Pathway
1. Complete 10+2 in Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology/ Mathematics
2. Complete Bachelor's degree in Optical Instrumentation/Optics and Optoelectronics/Aerospace Engineering/ Avionics/ Electronics and Electrical Engineering and any related field OR
Complete Bachelor's degree, followed by Master's in the same or related field
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
Where will you study?
The course is offered by Department of Engineering/Physics.
This list of institutes is indicative only
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTES
1. Delhi College Of Engineering, New Delhi
2. University of Delhi, New Delhi
3. Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
4. Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
5. National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh
6. Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology, Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
7. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
8. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
PRIVATE INSTITUTES
(Please check if institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC and AICTE before applying)
1. Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University, Gandhinagar
2. PP Savani University, Surat
3. Mangalam School of Architecture and Planning, Kottayam, Kerala
4. BMS School of Architecture, Bangalore
5. SunRise University, Alwar, Rajasthan
6. Smt Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture, Nagpur
7. Anant National University, Ahmedabad
8. Hindu College Of Design, Architecture and Planning, Sonipat, Haryana
DISTANCE LEARNING INSTITUTE
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Fees
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 30,000 -1,50,000* for the full course.
*(The above mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from Institute to Institute)
Scholarships & Loans
SCHOLARSHIPS
• Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana Scholarship - This scholarship is provided to students enrolled in the first year of their engineering undergraduate course. Eligibility includes an aptitude test. It is awarded by the Government of India for economically backward students who have a strong aptitude for scientific research.*
• Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship - About 20,000 such engineering scholarships are awarded by the Ministry of Minority Affairs every year. The full course fees of awardees is directly paid to their institutions under this scheme.*
• Indian Oil Educational Scholarship - The IOC Ltd offers 300 scholarships every year to eligible students. Students need to be enrolled in an undergraduate course. The scholarship particularly focuses on students with physical disabilities, women and students from North East and
• Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students - This scholarship is awarded to the meritorious students from economically weaker sections.
• National Scholarship Portal -Visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes.*
• Visit http://www.buddy4study.com a gateway to scholarships starting from Class Xl.*
• SchoIarships are also available in institutes based on merit.*
*(Availability of these scholarships vary from time to time)
LOANS
• VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan, This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Ministry of Education, Government of India and Indian Banks Association (IBA). Students can view, apply and track the education loan applications on the website.
• Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc.
• All banks give education loans.
Where will you work?
Places of Work: Optical Engineers are recruited by Aerospace industry, Electronic and lighting industry, Textiles sector, Companies producing scientific instruments or Optomechanical equipment (microscopes, telescopes, lasers, sensors, fiber-optic cables) and Government agencies among others.
Work Environment: You may be expected to work outdoors and in labs. You may work for 8 to 9 hours per day and 5 to 6 days per week You may be required to work late and on weekends in a bid to complete research projects or write reports.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field
Joshua Berrier is an optical engineer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He's served on more than 20 space flight projects such as the James Webb Space Telescope, Roman Space Telescope, and Parker Solar Probe. Currently, he's the AI&T lead for a space-qualified rover lidar which will be the first 3D imaging system of its kind designed to support wheeled vehicles on the lunar, Martian and other extraterrestrial surfaces.*
OPTICAL ENGINEER
NCS Code: NA | E034• You like Science and Maths
• You can use a computer to solve a scientific problem
• You like to do experiments
1. Complete 10+2 in Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology/ Mathematics
2. Complete Bachelor's degree in Optical Instrumentation/Optics and Optoelectronics/Aerospace Engineering/ Avionics/ Electronics and Electrical Engineering and any related field
OR
Complete Bachelor's degree, followed by Master's in the same or related field
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
The course is offered by Department of Engineering/Physics.
This list of institutes is indicative only
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTES
1. Delhi College Of Engineering, New Delhi
2. University of Delhi, New Delhi
3. Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
4. Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
5. National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh
6. Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology, Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
7. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
8. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
PRIVATE INSTITUTES
(Please check if institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC and AICTE before applying)
1. Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University, Gandhinagar
2. PP Savani University, Surat
3. Mangalam School of Architecture and Planning, Kottayam, Kerala
4. BMS School of Architecture, Bangalore
5. SunRise University, Alwar, Rajasthan
6. Smt Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture, Nagpur
7. Anant National University, Ahmedabad
8. Hindu College Of Design, Architecture and Planning, Sonipat, Haryana
Information on institute rankings is available at - http://www.nirfindia.org/2022/Ranking.html
DISTANCE LEARNING INSTITUTE
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 30,000 -1,50,000* for the full course.
*(The above mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from Institute to Institute)
SCHOLARSHIPS
• Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana Scholarship - This scholarship is provided to students enrolled in the first year of their engineering undergraduate course. Eligibility includes an aptitude test. It is awarded by the Government of India for economically backward students who have a strong aptitude for scientific research.*
• Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship - About 20,000 such engineering scholarships are awarded by the Ministry of Minority Affairs every year. The full course fees of awardees is directly paid to their institutions under this scheme.*
• Indian Oil Educational Scholarship - The IOC Ltd offers 300 scholarships every year to eligible students. Students need to be enrolled in an undergraduate course. The scholarship particularly focuses on students with physical disabilities, women and students from North East and
• Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students - This scholarship is awarded to the meritorious students from economically weaker sections.
• National Scholarship Portal -Visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes.*
• Visit http://www.buddy4study.com a gateway to scholarships starting from Class Xl.*
• SchoIarships are also available in institutes based on merit.*
*(Availability of these scholarships vary from time to time)
LOANS
• VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan, This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Ministry of Education, Government of India and Indian Banks Association (IBA). Students can view, apply and track the education loan applications on the website.
• Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc.
• All banks give education loans.
Places of Work: Optical Engineers are recruited by Aerospace industry, Electronic and lighting industry, Textiles sector, Companies producing scientific instruments or Optomechanical equipment (microscopes, telescopes, lasers, sensors, fiber-optic cables) and Government agencies among others.
Work Environment: You may be expected to work outdoors and in labs. You may work for 8 to 9 hours per day and 5 to 6 days per week You may be required to work late and on weekends in a bid to complete research projects or write reports.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field
Engineer → Project Manager / Project Engineer → Senior Product Manager / Senior Optical Engineer
The approx. salary of an Optical Engineer ranges between INR 26,800 -1,66,666* per month.
Source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Optical_Engineer/Salary
*The figures are indicative & subject to change
Experts from the field
Joshua Berrier is an optical engineer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He's served on more than 20 space flight projects such as the James Webb Space Telescope, Roman Space Telescope, and Parker Solar Probe. Currently, he's the AI&T lead for a space-qualified rover lidar which will be the first 3D imaging system of its kind designed to support wheeled vehicles on the lunar, Martian and other extraterrestrial surfaces.*
Source: https://directory.imts.com/8_0/sessions/speaker-details.cfm?speakerid=168
*The above information is for training purposes only and will not be used for any commercial gains
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