Senior Photonics Scientist: Sensing Architect & Innovator

Tharp Consulting; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Tharp Consulting is seeking a Phonics Scientist to develop, model, and test advanced photonic and electro-optical systems for national security and critical infrastructure missions.

The role focuses on designing experiments, analyzing optical data, and translating outcomes into deployable sensing architectures. You will collaborate with engineers and software teams to prototype and validate components while mentoring junior staff in a mission-driven team culture.

Qualifications

• Strong background in photonics and electro-optical systems.
• Experience with experimental design and optical data analysis.
• Ability to prototype and validate photonic components and sensing architectures.
• Proficiency with modeling and testing tools.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills.
• Experience publishing technical results and mentoring others.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments for photonic and electro-optical systems.
• Analyze complex optical data and derive performance insights.
• Translate research outcomes into deployable sensing and sensing-architecture solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering and software teams to prototype, validate, and optimize photonic components.
• Use advanced tools to drive system modeling, testing, and optimization.
• Publish findings and communicate results to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to an ethically focused, mission-driven team culture.

Skills

Photonics systems

Experimental design

Optical data analysis

Prototype sensing components

Modeling & testing tools

Collaboration

Mentoring

Job description

Tharp Consulting is seeking a Phonics Scientist to develop, model, and test advanced photonic and electro-optical systems for national security and critical infrastructure missions.

The role focuses on designing experiments, analyzing optical data, and translating outcomes into deployable sensing architectures. You will collaborate with engineers and software teams to prototype and validate components while mentoring junior staff in a mission-driven team culture.