Optical Engineer II

Lockheed Martin; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 91,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision care

Flexible work arrangements

401(k) match

Paid time off

Holidays

Parental Leave

EAP

Job summary

Lockheed Martin Corporation is seeking an Optical Engineer to design and analyze optical and electro-optical systems for space applications. You will perform optical design, modeling, and analysis, support hands-on alignment and test, and collaborate with senior engineers to mature solutions from concept to flight hardware.

The role emphasizes strong optics fundamentals, with the option to leverage a Master’s or PhD in optics or related field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 1+ years of related optical engineering experience or higher degree.
• Experience in optical design or analysis (ray tracing, modeling, tolerancing).
• Understanding of geometrical and physical optics and common metrics like MTF.
• Experience with MATLAB or Python for data analysis.
• Ability to document work and present results to engineering teams.
• U.S. citizenship and TS/SCI clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Perform optical design tasks for assigned systems and components, such as lens and mirror design, optimization, and design updates.
• Build optical models and analyze performance against requirements (e.g., image quality, radiometry, or beam propagation).
• Perform tolerance and sensitivity analyses, and support STOP analyses with structural and thermal analysts.
• Track predicted optical performance against requirements and update optical error budgets as designs mature.
• Prepare optical component specifications and review vendor inspection and test data.
• Support optical alignment, integration, and test, including test setup, data collection and reduction, and comparison of measured performance with model predictions.
• Support troubleshooting of optical performance issues in prototype and flight hardware.
• Work with mechanical, thermal, systems, stray light, and test engineers on your project team to resolve optical interface questions.
• Document analyses and test results in technical memos and reports, and present your work in team and design reviews.

Skills

Optical design

Modeling & analysis

Tolerance analysis

Test data analysis

Communication

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's in Optics

Master's or PhD acceptable

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

CODE V

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Standard Job Description

We are seeking an Optical Engineer to design and analyze optical and electro-optical systems, primarily for space applications. Our team develops imaging, sensing, and laser systems from early concepts through flight hardware. You will carry out optical design, modeling, and analysis tasks on assigned parts of these systems, support hands‑on alignment, integration, and test, and see your designs built and tested. You will solve optical problems of moderate scope, represent optics on your project team, and work alongside senior optical engineers who review your work and help you grow your skills.

This role centers on optical design and analysis. We are looking for strong optics fundamentals and some hands‑on design or analysis experience, and we do not expect experience in every area listed below. A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in optics or a related field can take the place of industry experience. Space flight experience is a plus.

Responsibilities:

• Perform optical design tasks for assigned systems and components, such as lens and mirror design, optimization, and design updates (e.g., telescopes, relay optics, beam expanders).
• Build optical models and analyze performance against requirements (e.g., image quality, radiometry, or beam propagation).
• Perform tolerance and sensitivity analyses, and support structural-thermal-optical performance (STOP) analyses with structural and thermal analysts.
• Track predicted optical performance against requirements and update optical error budgets as designs mature.
• Prepare optical component specifications and review vendor inspection and test data.
• Support optical alignment, integration, and test, including test setup, data collection and reduction, and comparison of measured performance with model predictions.
• Support troubleshooting of optical performance issues in prototype and flight hardware.
• Work with mechanical, thermal, systems, stray light, and test engineers on your project team to resolve optical interface questions.
• Document analyses and test results in technical memos and reports, and present your work in team and design reviews.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One or more years of related optical engineering experience, or a Master's degree or Ph.D. in optical engineering, physics, or a related field.
• Experience performing optical design or analysis (e.g., ray tracing, optical performance modeling, or tolerancing) through courses, professional work, or graduate research.
• Understanding of geometrical and physical optics and common optical quality metrics (e.g., wavefront error, MTF, encircled energy).
• Experience analyzing model or test data (e.g., using MATLAB, Python, or equivalent tools).
• Experience documenting technical work and presenting results to an engineering team.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.

Desired Skills

• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance, or active Top Secret clearance with eligibility for SCI or other required compartmented access.
• Experience using Zemax OpticStudio or CODE V for optical design, optimization, and tolerancing.
• Familiarity with how structural and thermal effects change optical performance (e.g., STOP analysis).
• Experience with radiometry or sensor performance modeling.
• Hands‑on optical lab experience (e.g., alignment, interferometry, MTF, or beam profiling), including test data reduction.
• Familiarity with stray light and ghost mitigation techniques (e.g., baffles, stops, coatings).
• Familiarity with optical materials, coatings, and how optical components are fabricated and specified.
• Experience with optical hardware for space flight or other demanding environments.
• Proficient in AI prompting as it applies to this position and practice

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $91200.00 - $169400.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well‑being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered

Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.

• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.