Measuring Middle-Skills Gaps within the Finger Lakes Regional Economy

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

OPTICAL SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY

Rochester’s nickname is “The World’s Image Center” because of its roots in optics, xerography and photography, and because Rochester is still an educational and commercial leader in photonics today. Bausch & Lomb, Corning, Kodak and Xerox make this area a research and manufacturing hub, rich with knowledge, experience and innovation in optics manufacturing, metrology and imaging. Optical Systems Technology offers a unique range of work choices in high technology fields. Career pathways and advancement in optics diverge into three main areas: production & development, fabrication and metrology. Optics offers opportunities to work in research, development, design, production, quality control, and testing and evaluation of optical components and systems, along with sales and service. Technicians produce, test, and handle optical components that are used in lasers and sophisticated electro-optical systems for defense, homeland security, aerospace, biomedical equipment, digital displays, telecom and nanotechnology.