Laser Communications Engineer, Senior

HRB; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 165,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, & Vision Plan

Retirement plan and 401K matching

Tuition assistance program

11 paid federal holidays

Job summary

HRB in Washington, DC seeks a highly experienced engineer-scientist to support Naval Research Laboratory SSDD. The role requires U.S.

citizenship, Top Secret clearance, and a PhD in Physics, Electrical, Optical Engineering or related field to advance laser communications for space, air, and ground applications. You will lead development and evaluation of laser subsystems, run multi-environment modeling (MATLAB, Python, Zemax, LabVIEW), design tests, collect data, and prepare executive reports.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Electrical, Optical Engineering or related technical field required.
• 12+ years of increasing responsibility in engineering/scientific disciplines including systems engineering, R&D, and program/portfolio management.
• Knowledge of state-of-the-art systems, electro-optical systems, optical propagation, and free-space optical laser communications.
• Expertise in laser subsystems components and controls (transmitters, fiber, lenses, detectors, signal processing, link budgets).
• Knowledge of laser atmospheric propagation theory and analysis.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, Zemax, LabVIEW or similar environments; ability to model and code across platforms.
• Ability to develop test methodologies and execute optical test instrumentation, data collection, and technical reporting.

Responsibilities

• Support Naval Research Laboratory SSDD in C4ISR hardware/software solutions for space, airborne, and ground applications.
• Provide technical expertise for laser communications systems across multiple domains.
• Facilitate R&D of advanced laser technologies for deployable, defense-grade solutions.

Skills

Laser systems knowledge

Optical propagation

Data analysis

Test methodologies

Executive documentation

Systems engineering

Portfolio management

Programming

Education

PhD in Physics, Electrical, Optical Engineering or related technical field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Zemax

LabVIEW

Job description

Must be a U.S. Citizen

Clearance Required: TopSecret

Education Required:

PhD in Physics, Electrical, Optical Engineering or related technical field

Experience Required:

• 12 or more years of increasing responsibility in professional engineering/scientific disciplines, including systems engineering, research and development, and program/portfolio management.
• Demonstrable knowledge of current state-of-the-art systems, electro-optical systems, optical propagation, and/or free space optical laser communications systems
• Technical expertise in laser subsystems components and controls including laser transmitters, fiber optics, lenses, detectors, signal processing, and optical link budgets..
• Demonstrable knowledge of laser atmospheric propagation theory and analysis.
• Broad modeling and coding experience in multiple environments (e.g. MATLAB, Python, Zemax, LabView, etc.)
• Development of test methodologies and execution, optical test instrumentation design and implementation, data collection and technical assessment, report writing and white paper/executive level documentation.

Position Description:

• Support Naval Research Laboratory Space Systems Development Division (SSDD). The primary objective of the SSDD is to develop command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) hardware and software solutions to space, airborne, and ground applications.
• Provide technical expertise for a rapidly expanding portfolio of laser communications systems and technologies that address significant needs in defense requirements for advanced optical communications across multiple domains.
• Facilitate research and development of advanced laser technologies and their application to deployable systems for innovative and advanced solutions for defense technology gaps. This entails exploration, development and evaluation of novel designs, methods, and techniques in the application of lasers to communication, ranging, and time-transfer systems.

Must be a U.S. Citizen

Clearance Required: TopSecret

Education Required:

PhD in Physics, Electrical, Optical Engineering or related technical field

Experience Required:

• 12 or more years of increasing responsibility in professional engineering/scientific disciplines, including systems engineering, research and development, and program/portfolio management.
• Demonstrable knowledge of current state-of-the-art systems, electro-optical systems, optical propagation, and/or free space optical laser communications systems
• Technical expertise in laser subsystems components and controls including laser transmitters, fiber optics, lenses, detectors, signal processing, and optical link budgets..
• Demonstrable knowledge of laser atmospheric propagation theory and analysis.
• Broad modeling and coding experience in multiple environments (e.g. MATLAB, Python, Zemax, LabView, etc.)
• Development of test methodologies and execution, optical test instrumentation design and implementation, data collection and technical assessment, report writing and white paper/executive level documentation.

Position Description:

• Support Naval Research Laboratory Space Systems Development Division (SSDD). The primary objective of the SSDD is to develop command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) hardware and software solutions to space, airborne, and ground applications.
• Provide technical expertise for a rapidly expanding portfolio of laser communications systems and technologies that address significant needs in defense requirements for advanced optical communications across multiple domains.
• Facilitate research and development of advanced laser technologies and their application to deployable systems for innovative and advanced solutions for defense technology gaps. This entails exploration, development and evaluation of novel designs, methods, and techniques in the application of lasers to communication, ranging, and time-transfer systems.

Salary:

The projected salary range for this position is $165,000 to $180,000; however, this is not a guarantee of salary. Salary will be set based on experience and contractual requirements.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Plan, short- and long-term disability, accidental death & dismemberment, 401K retirement & matching, Tuition assistance program, direct deposit, leave package and 11 paid federal holidays.