Principal Optical Engineer - 3

RiseMe; Arizona; On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Travel 10%

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Chandler, Arizona seeks a Principal Optical Engineer to support the Electro‑Optics Group in Launch Vehicles. You'll work on imaging/sensing optics, driving opto‑mechanical designs and ensuring performance across environmental conditions.

Responsibilities include optical design analyses, error budgets, 3D CAD reviews, and collaboration with cross‑functional teams to deliver flight hardware and test results. A Secret clearance is required for consideration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Optical Engineering or related field with 5+ years of experience.
• Experience with optical imaging or seeker systems and environmental effects.
• Strong modeling and tolerance analysis skills and exposure to design reviews.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze optical systems for imaging and sensing under varied environments.
• Develop optical error budgets and allocate tolerances across subsystems.
• Lead or support lab tests, alignments, and correlation with analyses.

Skills

Optical performance analysis

Optical modeling

Problem solving

Technical communication

Seeker engineering experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering

Master's degree (advantage)

PhD (advantage)

Tools

ZEMAX

Code V

FRED

CREO

NX

SolidWorks

ANSYS Mechanical

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is looking for aPrincipal Optical Engineerto support the Electro‑Optics Group within the Launch Vehicles business unit in Chandler, Arizona.

You will work as part of a multi‑disciplinary seeker engineering team responsible foroptical design, analysis, integration, and testof development and flight hardware. The role is centered onoptical engineering for imaging and sensing systems(visible through LWIR), with an emphasis on how opto‑mechanical design and environments drive optical performance.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to thedesign and analysis of optical systemsfor imaging and sensing applications (e.g., refractive/reflective optics, relay optics, athermalized systems, objective lenses).
• Performoptical performance analyses(e.g., wavefront error, MTF, line‑of‑sight (LOS) stability, boresight, sensitivity, and tolerancing) across expected environmental and operational conditions.
• Develop and maintainoptical error budgets, including contributions from alignment, manufacturing tolerances, thermal and structural effects, and line‑of‑sight stability.
• PerformStructurally Induced Line of Sight (SILOS)analysis in collaboration with structural and thermal analysts to ensure optical performance is maintained through the full mission profile.
• Defineoptical requirementsand allocate tolerances at the system, subsystem, and component levels; flow requirements to optomechanical design and manufacturing.
• Collaborate closely with opto‑mechanical, systems, electrical, and manufacturing engineers to ensure that optical designs arerealizable, producible, and testable.
• Guide and review the development ofoptomechanical designs(mounts, cells, structures) that support optical alignment, stability, and environmental robustness.
• Develop and reviewparametric 3D CAD models, detailed drawings, and associated documentation that fully capture opto‑mechanical requirements and constraints.
• Support and sometimes leadlaboratory and environmental test activities, including optical alignment, calibration, performance verification, and correlation of analysis to test (vibration, thermal, shock, etc.).
• Participate in design reviews (internal and customer), presentingoptical design concepts, analyses, error budgets, and test resultsto stakeholders.
• Assist with troubleshooting, root‑cause analysis, and design updates for prototype and production hardware when optical performance issues are identified.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree inOptical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree and 3 years of experience; or a PhD and 1 year of experience.
• Active U.S. Government - Secret security clearance at time of application.
• Demonstrated experience withoptical systemsused in imaging, sensing, or seeker applications (may include internships, projects, or early‑career roles).
• Experience withoptical performance analysisand an understanding of how structural and thermal environments affect imaging quality and line of sight (e.g., STOP/SILOS concepts).
• Proficiency withoptical modeling tools(e.g., ZEMAX, Code V, FRED, or equivalent) for design, analysis, and tolerancing.
• Experience with3D CAD tools(e.g., CREO, NX, SolidWorks) to interface effectively with opto‑mechanical designs; ANSYS Mechanical experience preferred.
• Experience withoptical imaging systemsin one or more spectral bands (e.g., visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR).
• Demonstrated problem‑solving skills for complex optical/optomechanical challenges in a project environment.
• Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to generate clear documentation and present optical design/analysis results to technical and non‑technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or PhD inOptical Engineering, Physics, or Mechanical Engineeringwith a focus on optical systems.
• Previous experience with DoD missile defense or seeker programs, including familiarity with performance verification frameworks, environmental qualification, and flight test correlation.
• Hands‑on experience withSTOP and SILOS modeling workflowsand integration of structural/thermal results with optical design tools.
• Experience withmissile systems, seeker systems, or other high‑reliability, environmentally challenging electro‑optical applications.
• Previous experience or knowledge ofDoD missile defense programsand associated standards.
• Deep experience withEO systems, including optical design, analysis and tolerancing, stray‑light control, error budgets, radiometric budgets, opto‑mechanical design, and focal plane technologies.
• Proficiency withoptical design toolssuch as ZEMAX, Code V, FRED, and mechanical/optomechanical CAD tools such as NX and SolidWorks.
• Experience planning and executingoptical and environmental test campaignsand correlating measured optical performance to predictive analyses.

#AZSpace - https://jobs.northropgrumman.com/careers?query=AZSpace

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,200.00 - $162,400.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.