UCF Fall 2026 CREOL Optics & Photonics Career Fair
Optics companies building AR/VR, quantum and space systems need software engineers too, and few CS students show up.
4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL 32816
What this event is
UCF's CREOL Optics & Photonics Career Fair runs October 8 from 1 to 5 PM in the Dixon Career Development Center lobby, connecting UCF students and alumni with optics and photonics employers working in AI, AR/VR, space, biomedical, quantum and data-center technologies. Advance Handshake registration (career fair 69196) is required and it is open to UCF students and alumni only.
Roles you will actually see
Who should go
UCF CS and computer engineering students interested in computer vision, embedded, AR/VR or scientific software.
Specialty fairs are where software people face almost no competition. Photonics employers need firmware, controls, computer-vision and data folks and rarely see CS majors walk in. Many of these firms are defense-adjacent, so check clearance requirements early. If you have any imaging or embedded project, lead with it.
Show up prepared
- 1Register on Handshake and read each employer's software openings
- 2Bring a project that touches imaging, embedded or data pipelines
- 3Ask about citizenship requirements in the first minute
Sponsorship reality
Sponsorship varies by employer. No organizer publishes sponsorship. Check each employer you plan to meet against H-1B disclosure data before you go, and ask in the first two minutes so neither side wastes the conversation.
Showing up is half of it.
The other half is being first to the roles these employers post, and having something real to show when you get there.
See roles the minute they go live, tailor one resume per employer, and reach the hiring manager directly. Walk into the event as a follow-up, not a stranger.
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