Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Optical engineer to sensor engineer

An optical engineer already meets 71% of what the sensor engineer role asks for. The move turns on 13 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From optical engineer
71 % overlap
Strong match
To sensor engineer
78 You already bring
13 Still to learn
108 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

46.1/ 100

1 How much of what a sensor engineer is expected to do is already part of an optical engineer’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the sensor engineer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A sensor engineer role treats 29 of its required skills as things an optical engineer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • adjust engineering designs
  • analyse test data
  • approve engineering design
  • conduct literature research
  • conduct quality control analysis
  • control engineering

What stands in the way is 13 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 78 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A sensor engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an optical engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held develop electronic test procedures management skills
  • already held MOEM engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held microsensors engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held digital camera sensors arts and humanities
  • already held microelectromechanical systems engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held microprocessors information and communication technologies (icts)

All 78 carried skills, including the 29 the sensor engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 30 missing skills fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 3 required, 7 supplementary
  • still to learn electricity required
  • still to learn electricity principles required
  • still to learn electronic test procedures required
  • optional, not held consumer electronics optional
  • optional, not held automation technology optional
  • optional, not held building automation optional
  • optional, not held electrical engineering optional
  • optional, not held environmental engineering optional
  • optional, not held industrial research and development optional
  • optional, not held safety engineering optional
02 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 required, 2 supplementary
  • still to learn design sensors required
  • still to learn model sensor required
  • still to learn design prototypes required
  • optional, not held automotive engineering optional
  • optional, not held design firmware optional
03 information and communication technologies (icts) 2 required, 3 supplementary
  • still to learn digital twin technology required
  • still to learn computer simulation required
  • optional, not held quantum computing optional
  • optional, not held firmware optional
  • optional, not held hybrid control systems optional
04 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn environmental threats required
  • optional, not held mathematical modelling optional
05 working with computers 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn use technical drawing software required
  • optional, not held use CAM software optional
06 assisting and caring 1 required
  • still to learn abide by regulations on banned materials required

4 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a sensor engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 78 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held adjust engineering designs skill
  • already held analyse test data skill
  • already held approve engineering design skill
  • already held conduct literature research skill
  • already held conduct quality control analysis skill
  • already held control engineering knowledge
  • already held demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
  • already held design drawings knowledge
  • already held develop electronic test procedures skill
  • already held electronic equipment standards knowledge
  • already held electronics knowledge
  • already held engineering principles knowledge
  • already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
  • already held manage personal professional development skill
  • already held manage research data skill
  • already held mathematics knowledge
  • already held microsensors knowledge
  • already held operate open source software skill
  • already held operate scientific measuring equipment skill
  • already held perform data analysis skill
  • already held perform project management skill
  • already held physics knowledge
  • already held prepare production prototypes skill
  • already held read engineering drawings skill
  • already held record test data skill
  • already held report analysis results skill
  • already held sensors knowledge
  • already held synthesise information skill
  • already held think abstractly skill
  • already held CAE software knowledge
  • already held MOEM knowledge
  • already held apply blended learning skill
  • already held apply for research funding skill
  • already held apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities skill
  • already held apply technical communication skills skill
  • already held build business relationships skill
  • already held communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
  • already held communicate with customers skill
  • already held computer engineering knowledge
  • already held conduct research across disciplines skill
  • already held coordinate engineering teams skill
  • already held create technical plans skill
  • already held define manufacturing quality criteria skill
  • already held develop product design skill
  • already held develop professional network with researchers and scientists skill
  • already held digital camera sensors knowledge
  • already held disseminate results to the scientific community skill
  • already held draft bill of materials skill
  • already held draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation skill
  • already held evaluate research activities skill
  • already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
  • already held integrate gender dimension in research skill
  • already held maintain safe engineering watches skill
  • already held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data skill
  • already held manage intellectual property rights skill
  • already held manage open publications skill
  • already held mechanical engineering knowledge
  • already held mentor individuals skill
  • already held microelectromechanical systems knowledge
  • already held microelectronics knowledge
  • already held microprocessors knowledge
  • already held optics knowledge
  • already held optoelectronics knowledge
  • already held perform resource planning skill
  • already held perform scientific research skill
  • already held perform test run skill
  • already held precision mechanics knowledge
  • already held prepare assembly drawings skill
  • already held promote open innovation in research skill
  • already held promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities skill
  • already held promote the transfer of knowledge skill
  • already held publish academic research skill
  • already held speak different languages skill
  • already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill
  • already held train employees skill
  • already held use CAD software skill
  • already held use precision tools skill
  • already held write scientific publications skill
The 4 learning areas not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 business, administration and law 1 required
  • still to learn environmental legislation required
08 constructing 1 required
  • still to learn test sensors required
09 health and welfare 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held biomedical engineering optional
  • optional, not held biotechnology optional
10 arts and humanities 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held holography optional
17 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held consumer electronics optional
  • optional, not held holography optional
  • optional, not held quantum computing optional
  • optional, not held automation technology optional
  • optional, not held automotive engineering optional
  • optional, not held biomedical engineering optional
  • optional, not held biotechnology optional
  • optional, not held building automation optional
  • optional, not held design firmware optional
  • optional, not held electrical engineering optional
  • optional, not held environmental engineering optional
  • optional, not held firmware optional
  • optional, not held hybrid control systems optional
  • optional, not held industrial research and development optional
  • optional, not held mathematical modelling optional
  • optional, not held safety engineering optional
  • optional, not held use CAM software optional
40 held skills the sensor engineer role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role acoustics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role cavity optomechanics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role design optical prototypes skill
  • not needed by the target role design optical systems skill
  • not needed by the target role develop optical test procedures skill
  • not needed by the target role electromagnetic spectrum knowledge
  • not needed by the target role electrooptic devices knowledge
  • not needed by the target role electrooptics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role fibre optics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role interpret circuit diagrams skill
  • not needed by the target role lasers knowledge
  • not needed by the target role maintain optical equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role medical imaging technology knowledge
  • not needed by the target role microoptics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role microwave principles knowledge
  • not needed by the target role model optical systems skill
  • not needed by the target role mount optical components on frames skill
  • not needed by the target role operate optical assembly equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role operate precision machinery skill
  • not needed by the target role operate precision measuring equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role optical components knowledge
  • not needed by the target role optical engineering knowledge
  • not needed by the target role optical equipment standards knowledge
  • not needed by the target role optical glass characteristics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role optical instruments knowledge
  • not needed by the target role optical manufacturing process knowledge
  • not needed by the target role optoelectronic devices knowledge
  • not needed by the target role optomechanical components knowledge
  • not needed by the target role optomechanical engineering knowledge
  • not needed by the target role photonics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role quality standards knowledge
  • not needed by the target role quantum optics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role radars knowledge
  • not needed by the target role refractive power knowledge
  • not needed by the target role resolve equipment malfunctions skill
  • not needed by the target role sell optical products skill
  • not needed by the target role semiconductors knowledge
  • not needed by the target role telecommunications engineering knowledge
  • not needed by the target role test optical components skill
  • not needed by the target role types of optical instruments knowledge
21 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier
  • still to learn digital twin technology required
  • still to learn environmental threats required
  • still to learn computer simulation required
  • still to learn electricity required
  • still to learn electricity principles required
  • still to learn electronic test procedures required
  • still to learn environmental legislation required
  • optional, not held consumer electronics optional
  • optional, not held holography optional
  • optional, not held quantum computing optional
  • optional, not held automation technology optional
  • optional, not held biomedical engineering optional
  • optional, not held biotechnology optional
  • optional, not held building automation optional
  • optional, not held electrical engineering optional
  • optional, not held environmental engineering optional
  • optional, not held firmware optional
  • optional, not held hybrid control systems optional
  • optional, not held industrial research and development optional
  • optional, not held mathematical modelling optional
  • optional, not held safety engineering optional
Index

Other moves recorded from optical engineer

Full index of moves from optical engineer

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can an optical engineer become a sensor engineer?

Yes, and it is a moderate move. An optical engineer already covers 71% of what a sensor engineer is expected to do: 78 skills carry over, 29 of which the sensor engineer role treats as required.

What skills does an optical engineer need to become a sensor engineer?

13 required skills are missing, plus 17 optional ones. They fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by engineering, manufacturing and construction. The single most important is abide by regulations on banned materials.

How hard is the move from optical engineer to sensor engineer?

Its learning distance is 46.1 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.