Electro Optical Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

Relocation assistance

Education assistance programs

401(k) Plan

Flexible spending accounts

Professional growth and development

Inclusive work environment

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks a skilled member of staff to design, develop, and evaluate EO/IR collection capabilities and synthetic imagery using DIRSIG/MODTRAN. You will work with lab teams to support system performance assessments and data analysis for national security applications.

Candidates should have a strong background in imaging science or related fields, with experience in synthetic imagery and programming (Matlab/Python/C/C++). A TS/SCI clearance and U.S. citizenship are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Imaging Science, Remote Sensing, Physics, Astronomy, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Optical Engineering, or another related discipline.
• Familiarity with DIRSIG and MODTRAN for generating synthetic EO/IR data.
• Experience with 3D scene construction, image simulation, and synthetic data verification.
• Experience with Matlab, Python, and/or C/C++.
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Support design, development, and characterization of EO/IR collection capabilities using DIRSIG, MODTRAN, and other modeling software to generate synthetic imagery.
• Leverage lab capabilities to support system performance assessments.
• Develop and assess image processing and data analysis techniques for synthetic and real EO/IR data.
• Utilize lab capabilities to assess EO/IR systems and phenomenologies.
• Collaborate with a team of staff and customers on technical studies as contributor and leader.

Skills

DIRSIG

MODTRAN

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Imaging Science/Remote Sensing/Physics/Astronomy/Aerospace/Electrical Engineering/Optical Engineering

Tools

EO/IR analysis tools

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space. At the Mission Payloads Division (MPD), we are pioneers in remote sensing systems that guide our country’s space enterprise. Our talented and dynamic people create and flourish in electronics, sensors, radar, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced data network domains. We boldly advance technology through our research and development and then forward to demonstration and integration. With innovative laboratories and prototyping, MPD delivers groundbreaking results. We guide our Department of Defense, intelligence community, and civil clients to enhance national productivity and security and tackle the most critical missions. Bring your intelligence and creative spirit and join us at MPD! The Advanced Sensor Engineering Department (ASED) is a multi-disciplinary group of engineers and scientists actively engaged in supporting current and future generations of remote sensing systems of national importance. ASED covers a wide range of focus areas largely based around EO/IR collection capabilities. While members of ASED have a core competency area, they are all willing to work, learn, and engage in methodologies and efforts outside of this core competency to support a wide range of efforts and activities. This includes modeling system performance, exploring new phenomenologies, developing proof of concept and/or prototype systems, providing assessments of EO/IR sensor components and systems, and developing algorithms and techniques for the analysis and processing of remote sensing data. All this is supported and accomplished through modeling, simulation, and laboratory capabilities. The selected candidate will be required to work full time on-site at our facility at Chantilly, VA

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting the design, development, and characterization of EO/IR collection capabilities through the use of DIRSIG, MODTRAN, and other modeling software to generate synthetic imagery
• Leveraging laboratory capabilities to support the system performance assessments
• Implementing, developing, generating, and/or assessing image processing and data analysis techniques for both synthetic and real sensor based EO/IR data sets
• Utilizing ASED lab capabilities in support of assessing and developing EO/IR systems and related phenomenologies
• Working with a team of junior and senior staff with a diverse knowledgebase across Aerospace and multiple customers on technical studies as both contributor and leader

What You Need to be Successful – Member of Technical Staff Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s in Imaging Science, Remote Sensing, Physics, Astronomy, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Optical Engineering, or another related discipline
• Familiarity with software such as DIRSIG and MODTRAN for generating synthetic data for EO/IR systems
• Experience with relevant synthetic image generation techniques such as 3D scene construction, image simulation, and/or verification of synthetic data sets
• Prior exposure to programming environments and languages such as Matlab, Python, and/or C/C++
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for Engineering Specialist include:
• Eight or more years of experience working with EO/IR system analysis, assessment, modeling, data processing, and exploitation
• Proficiency for developing flexible analysis, modeling, and testing capabilities
• Expertise generating and/or using synthetic imagery for studies, system design, and performance assessments

How You Can Stand Out

• An advanced degree in Physics, Astronomy, Remote Sensing, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Imaging Science, Optical Engineering, or another related discipline
• Proficiency using DIRSIG for the generation of synthetic EO/IR imagery
• Understanding of radiometric calibration methodologies as applied to space based systems
• Demonstrated abilities in the end-to-end analysis and verification of synthetic and real EO/IR datasets
• Understanding of focal plane technologies including characterization, calibration, modeling, and how these are modeled into a synthetic image chain
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and applying data with standard radiometric measurement equipment including spectrometers, power meters, and/or other relevant tools for use in synthetic imagery generation and assessments
• Prior experience implementing scripted pipelines for automation of processing pipelines
• Demonstrated ability to apply laboratory measurements and results to modeling and assessment of EO/IR systems
• Current TS/SCI

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. (Min - Max) $110,400.00 - $193,000.00 Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change Engage with Impact Foster Innovation Deliver Results Ways

We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [e-mail] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

Right Place

The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges.

Right Path

Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations.

Right Purpose

We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it.

Return to the Aerospace Careers site. Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.