Aerospace Optical Systems Engineer — NASA Programs

Technology Project Managers, Inc; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Technology Project Managers, Inc. (TPM) is seeking an Optical Systems Engineer to design, integrate, validate, and optimize complex optical systems for spaceflight instrumentation and aerospace applications.

You will work across multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-reliability solutions for NASA missions. Role emphasizes requirements development, V&V planning, and alignment with mission objectives; on-site in Greenbelt, MD, with a focus on imaging, LIDAR, and spectrometer systems.

Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace Systems engineering, physics or related field.
• 5+ years of optical systems engineering experience, preferably in aerospace.
• Strong understanding of optical design principles and systems engineering processes.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate in end-to-end systems engineering lifecycle for optical subsystems, including requirements, architecture, design, integration and verification.
• Develop and manage optical system requirements with traceability to mission objectives.
• Define and execute verification and validation plans for optical payloads.
• Follow NASA CM policies and maintain configuration management.
• Design and analyze optical systems (imaging, LIDAR, spectrometers, telescopes).
• Conduct optical modeling to assess stray light, wavefront error, thermal effects, and alignment performance.
• Support assembly, integration, and test activities for flight hardware.
• Prepare technical documentation (SRDs, ICDs, PDR/CDR/TRR).
• Work onsite in Greenbelt, 9-5, M-F.

Skills

Optical design principles

Systems engineering

V-model

Traceability

Optical modeling

Education

BS in Aerospace Systems Engineering or related fields

Tools

Zemax

Code V

MATLAB

Job description

Technology Project Managers, Inc. (TPM) is seeking an Optical Systems Engineer to design, integrate, validate, and optimize complex optical systems for spaceflight instrumentation and aerospace applications.

You will work across multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-reliability solutions for NASA missions. Role emphasizes requirements development, V&V planning, and alignment with mission objectives; on-site in Greenbelt, MD, with a focus on imaging, LIDAR, and spectrometer systems.