Senior Optical System Engineer & Lens Designer

Valkyrie-Enterprises; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Valkyrie Enterprises in Huntsville, AL, and Redstone Arsenal, AL, seeks a senior Optical System Engineer & Lens Designer to lead complex refractive and reflective optical designs, opto-mechanical integration, and HWIL simulations for weapon system sensors.

The role requires extensive Zemax experience, CAD packaging skills, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop and test laser and optical assemblies across visible and infrared bands.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field plus 5–10+ years in optical design/engineering.
• Proven track record of designing, tolerancing, and analyzing complex optical systems.
• Extensive experience with Zemax OpticStudio for ray tracing, optimization and tolerancing.
• Experience with opto-mechanical packaging and CAD tools (SolidWorks/Inventor/Creo).
• Experience with visible and infrared wavelengths (SWIR, MWIR, LWIR) and coatings.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced optical engineering, lens design, opto-mechanical integration, testing, validation and analysis for scene projection and weapon system integration.
• Serve as optical SME and coordinate with optical and mechanical engineers.
• Perform end-to-end design of refractive and reflective optical systems using Zemax OpticStudio across VIS and IR wavelengths.
• Model, package, and analyze optical components, mounts, ensuring stability.
• Develop laser/optical solutions for testing seekers/sensors and conduct trade studies.

Skills

Optical design

Zemax OpticStudio

Opto-mechanical CAD

Python

MATLAB

HWIL simulation

Education

BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field

Master’s or PhD preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

Inventor

Creo

Code V

OSLO

FRED

Job description

Valkyrie Enterprises in Huntsville, AL, and Redstone Arsenal, AL, seeks a senior Optical System Engineer & Lens Designer to lead complex refractive and reflective optical designs, opto-mechanical integration, and HWIL simulations for weapon system sensors.

The role requires extensive Zemax experience, CAD packaging skills, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop and test laser and optical assemblies across visible and infrared bands.