IR Camera Systems Principal Engineer

Safran Defense & Space, Inc.; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran Defense & Space, Inc. in the Attollo Engineering unit seeks a Principal Engineer for IR camera systems.

You will be the technical authority for SWIR/MWIR cameras, guiding design trade-offs across optics, electronics, firmware, and detectors, with external-facing work and bench-level problem solving. This role requires a BS in Electrical/Optical Engineering (MS preferred), deep hands-on development experience, clearance eligibility, and US citizenship.

Qualifications

• Hands-on IR camera systems development: architecture, requirements, integration and characterization.
• Deep understanding of cooled detector, IDCA, and cryocooler integration.
• Experience with camera electronics, firmware, and image processing at bench.
• Ability to obtain Active DoD Secret clearance and US citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary technical authority for SWIR/MWIR camera products and related sensor technologies.
• Work with engineers in the lab on assembly, integration, validation, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Lead design reviews across hardware, firmware, software, and optics.
• Define and refine electrical, optical, mechanical, firmware, and environmental requirements.
• Engage with defense primes and government labs to develop new product concepts.
• Lead proposals and technical content for bids.

Skills

IR camera systems

System architecture

Embedded software

Image processing

Electrical design

Customer requirements

Education

Bachelors in EE

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Safran DSI Business Unit: Attollo Engineering

About Our Mission

Join the forefront of innovation and make an impact at Safran Defense & Space, Inc.! Safran Defense & Space Inc. (Safran DSI), headquartered in Arlington, Va., is a leading U.S. aerospace company dedicated to supporting national defense and space missions. As a trusted partner to the U.S. armed forces, government agencies, and commercial sectors, Safran DSI delivers advanced technology solutions through its specialized business units: Assured PNT, Attollo Engineering, Geospatial AI, Optronics, Space Solutions, and Testing & Telemetry. Attollo Engineering is a designer and manufacturer of cutting‑edge infrared cameras and laser sensor systems for defense and industrial applications. Leveraging extensive expertise in the electro‑optical market, systems design, and packaging, Attollo delivers superior solutions for system integrators, original equipment manufacturers, and custom applications. Their commitment to quality engineering empowers Safran DSI to provide innovative and reliable technology to its partners. If you’re ready to join our mission and serve those who serve, Safran DSI is the perfect place for you to take your career to the next level. Make a real difference and be part of something extraordinary.

Position Profile

The Principal Engineer, IR Camera Systems serves as a primary technical authority for Attollo's SWIR (short‑wave infrared) and MWIR (mid‑wave infrared) camera product lines and adjacent sensor technologies, driving quality, design trade‑offs, and risk‑based engineering judgment across optical, electronic, firmware, and detector disciplines. This is a high‑influence individual contributor role — roughly 40% external‑facing (customer technical engagement, requirements negotiation, proposal support, design reviews) and 60% internal (hands‑on lab work, troubleshooting, mentoring, and setting technical direction on active programs and new development). The role carries broad technical authority without direct‑report responsibility, and requires both the ability to define a solution path and the willingness to work at the bench to realize it.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary technical authority for Attollo's SWIR/MWIR camera products and related sensor technologies — making judgment calls on quality, design trade‑offs, and risk based on broad industry experience.
• Work directly alongside engineers in the lab on assembly, integration, validation, test, and hardware/firmware/software troubleshooting.
• Lead and contribute to technical design reviews (PDR/CDR/TRR — Preliminary, Critical, and Test Readiness Reviews) across hardware, firmware, software, and optics.
• Define and refine electrical, optical, mechanical, firmware, and environmental requirements for new and existing products.
• Drive resolution of difficult cross‑disciplinary problems spanning optics, electronics, firmware, image processing, and integration.
• Engage credibly with defense primes, mid‑tier integrators, and government laboratory customers to solve problems and develop new product concepts.
• Lead technical content for proposals — writing key sections and coordinating contributions from other engineers.
• Anticipate customer needs and translate them into actionable engineering requirements.
• Represent Attollo at design reviews, customer site visits, technical conferences, and industry working groups.
• Mentor and develop engineers across disciplines and levels; build the next generation of technical leadership.
• Contribute to engineering policies, procedures, and best practices with a bias toward lightweight, small‑company‑appropriate processes.
• Identify capability gaps and propose targeted investments in people, equipment, or training.
• Identify, evaluate, and champion new technologies relevant to Attollo's strategic direction.
• Lead conceptual development of new products from requirements definition through architecture and early prototyping, bridging strategic roadmap with tactical execution on active programs.
• Participate in special projects as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Informal technical mentorship and guidance to junior, mid‑level, and senior engineers across disciplines but has no direct performance‑management authority.

What You’ll Need To Be Successful

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a closely related technical discipline. Master’s degree preferred.
• Deep, hands‑on IR camera systems development: System architecture, requirements definition, integration, and characterization. Cooled SWIR or MWIR experience strongly preferred over uncooled‑only.
• Strong understanding of cooled detector and IDCA (Integrated Detector Cooler Assembly) fundamentals, detector array characteristics, ROIC (Read‑Out Integrated Circuit) interfaces, vacuum packaging, and cryocooler integration sufficient to make sound trade‑off decisions and flag risks.
• Solid knowledge of camera electronics architecture and analog/digital design (front ends, biasing, power, clocking, data interfaces) enough to define requirements, review designs, and troubleshoot at the bench.
• Solid knowledge of camera firmware and embedded software architecture, including image correction/processing functions such as NUC (Non‑Uniformity Correction), bad‑pixel replacement, auto‑exposure/auto‑gain, and basic image enhancement.
• Demonstrated ability to define and negotiate electrical, optical, mechanical, and environmental requirements with customers.
• Ability to obtain Active DoD Secret Security Clearance
• Requires U.S. Citizenship required.

Ideally, You’ll Also Have

• Active or recently active DoD security clearance (Secret or higher).
• Direct experience with handheld target locator modules, fire control systems, weapon sights, gimbaled ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) payloads, or guided munition seekers.
• Experience leading or contributing to SBIR/STTR (Small Business Innovation Research /Small Business Technology Transfer) or other government R&D proposals.
• Experience with FPGA‑based camera architecture and image processing pipelines.
• Direct experience with cryocooler integration, vacuum packaging design, and detector‑level test and characterization.
• Experience working in an ITAR environment

Salary Range

$180,000-$240,000 annual salary, plus participation in individual performance bonus plan.

Travel

Approximately 15–25%, primarily for customer site visits, design reviews, technical conferences, and industry working groups.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

EOE/AA/M/F/Vets – US Protected Individual status required (US citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee, refugee or temporary resident (as defined at 8 USC 1160(a).