Senior Optical Payload I&T Engineer

General Atomics; Acton (MA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) seeks a Senior Optical Payload Integration & Test engineer in Acton, MA, to lead integration, automate tests, and verify EO/IR payload performance. You will collaborate with system, software, and electrical teams in a lab/cleanroom setting and ensure rigorous verification across development stages.

The role emphasizes cross-discipline coordination, test automation with Python, and hardware-in-the-loop assessment, with opportunities for growth and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or related field; two+ years of engineering experience.
• Experience with system-level integration and testing of complex hardware or embedded systems.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary integration efforts involving optical, electrical, and software subsystems.
• Understanding of electro-optical system design and test processes.
• Familiarity with optics and optical test equipment (Collimators, Integrating Spheres, Blackbodies, Lasers, stages).
• Proficiency in Python for test automation, data handling, hardware control, and analysis.
• Ability to read and understand C code, diagnostics and interface verification.
• Familiarity with Linux environments, command-line tools, and Git.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement test strategies for payload functional, performance, and environmental verification.
• Lead cross-discipline coordination between optical, electrical, software, and systems teams during integration and test campaigns.
• Develop and maintain automated test infrastructure and Python-based test frameworks.
• Collaborate with Flight Software and Systems Engineering teams to test embedded code in hardware-in-the-loop setups.
• Perform electrical and software integration of payload components and interfaces.
• Oversee operation and integration of optical test equipment.
• Support V&V across prototype, qualification, and flight hardware.
• Analyze telemetry, images, and environmental data to assess performance and stability.
• Establish data management and traceability for test results and configs.
• Document test procedures and results per engineering and quality processes.
• Support anomaly investigations and corrective actions during campaigns.
• Mentor early-career engineers and test operators in disciplined processes.

Skills

System-level integration & testing

Multidisciplinary coordination

Electro-optical system design & test

Python for test automation

C code comprehension

Linux & Git familiarity

Technical writing & communication

DoD security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering

Tools

Python

Git

Linux

CAN/Serial/Ethernet

Colimators & Optical test equipment

Job description

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) seeks a Senior Optical Payload Integration & Test engineer in Acton, MA, to lead integration, automate tests, and verify EO/IR payload performance. You will collaborate with system, software, and electrical teams in a lab/cleanroom setting and ensure rigorous verification across development stages.

The role emphasizes cross-discipline coordination, test automation with Python, and hardware-in-the-loop assessment, with opportunities for growth and