Lead, Optical Engineer

L3Harris Technologies; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 251,000; Full time

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. in Carlsbad, CA, seeks a senior Lead, Optical Engineering to drive optical architecture for fiber optics, precision microscopy, and waveguides.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, engage customers, and own key technical outcomes with substantial autonomy. This role requires a TS clearance with SCI eligibility, a Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years (or graduate degree with 7+), and proven capabilities in modeling, design, and validation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher with extensive relevant experience.
• 9+ years in optical engineering; or 7+ years with a graduate degree; 13+ years if no degree.
• Ability to obtain TS clearance with SCI eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Originate and evaluate optical designs for fiber optics, precision microscopy, and waveguides; lead development through models, prototypes, and experiments.
• Own optical architecture, trade studies, and performance budgets; ensure coherent approach across components.
• Define optical tolerances, coupling approaches, measurement methods and acceptance criteria.
• Lead laboratory characterization and validation; interpret data and model predictions to guide decisions.
• Lead customer discussions to clarify requirements and drive design reviews; link decisions to execution.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across optical, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing interfaces.
• Mentor engineers, communicate risks, and guide the team toward reliable execution.
• Ability to obtain and maintain TS clearance with SCI eligibility.

Skills

Optical design leadership

Team leadership

Customer engagement

Modeling and analysis

System integration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Graduate degree preferred

Tools

Optical modeling tools

Waveguide design tools

Laboratory metrology equipment

Job description

Job Title: Lead, Optical Engineering

Job Code: 47645

Job Location: Carlsbad, CA

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

The Carlsbad optical engineering team advances fiber-optic, precision-microscopy, and waveguide technologies from concept through laboratory validation and system integration. This senior role leads optical architecture, multidisciplinary teams, and customer engagement with substantial autonomy and accountability for technical outcomes, business growth, and development execution.

Essential Functions:

• Originate and evaluate optical design concepts for fiber optics, precision microscopy, and waveguides, and lead technology development through models, prototypes, and experiments. Connect customer needs and development priorities to technically sound opportunities that support business growth and successful execution.
• Own optical architecture, trade studies, and performance budgets, using models and engineering evidence to resolve design choices and maintain a coherent approach across components and assemblies.
• Define optical tolerances, coupling approaches, measurement methods, and acceptance criteria to establish clear performance objectives for component and assembly design, characterization, and validation.
• Lead laboratory characterization using microscopy and optical metrology, and own validation and integration of optical hardware. Interpret processed measurement data alongside model predictions and uncertainty estimates to resolve discrepancies and guide technical decisions.
• Lead customer discussions to clarify optical requirements, explain design choices, and resolve interface and performance tradeoffs. Lead customer-facing design reviews and connect the resulting decisions to development priorities and execution.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across optical, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and test interfaces, coordinating work and resolving technical issues through system integration.
• Own technical decisions and development priorities with substantial autonomy and accountability for engineering outcomes. Communicate risks and results, mentor engineers, and guide the team toward reliable execution.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS clearance with SCI eligibility

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Graduate degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience leading optical design, integration, or characterization and resolving complex optical performance issues through engineering analysis and technical decisions. Experience developing optical models, performance budgets, and verification methods, and interpreting laboratory measurements to assess performance and guide engineering decisions.
• Experience with fiber-optic subsystems, precision microscopy, or coherent optical measurements, including architecture tradeoffs and laboratory validation.
• Experience with waveguide design, modeling, or characterization, including comparison of design predictions with measured performance.
• Experience with optical packaging, tolerance analysis, and precision optomechanical integration to resolve optical interfaces and alignment sensitivities. Experience with prototype development, design reviews, and transition of optical hardware toward production, including development planning and execution.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with Poly.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California is $135,000 - $250,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer.