Senior Principal Optical Systems Engineer

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 136,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plan

Savings Plan

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Senior Principal Optical Engineer to lead optical implementations and system development for advanced EO/IR systems. The role operates on‑site in Linthicum, MD, coordinating across programs, mentoring junior staff, and engaging with customers on technical topics.

The position requires a PhD/advanced degree with several years of experience in optical design, strong Zemax/Code V/FRED skills, and the ability to obtain Special Program Access.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of experience, Master’s degree with 6 years, or Ph.D. with 4 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related fields; additional 4 years may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• A current/active U.S. Government Secret Clearance is required.
• Ability to obtain Special Program Access.
• Experience in Zemax, Code V, and/or FRED for optical design and analysis.
• Experience with optical theory and detailed optical design for imaging and non‑imaging systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team‑based environment, collaborating with systems, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Convert system performance and functional requirements into optical architectures, optical layouts, and detailed optical designs for airborne platforms.
• Analyze optical design performance, generate and flow down vendor specifications, develop and execute alignment, integration, and test (AI&T) plans.
• Build and maintain physics‑based sensor models.
• Develop and quantify performance metrics for system performance.
• Understand data quality and artifact impacts.
• Represent system performance in functional and analytical models.

Skills

Optical design

EO/IR systems

Zemax/Code V/FRED

Team collaboration

Mentoring

System architecture

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Science/Engineering

Master’s degree

PhD

Tools

Zemax

Code V

FRED

Job description

Relocation assistance may be available.

Clearance required for start: Yes.

Clearance type: Secret.

Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time.

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.

Job Overview

The EOIR team is seeking a Senior Principal Optical Engineer to serve as a technical lead for optical implementations and system development on advanced electro‑optical and infrared (EO/IR) systems. In this role, you will work across multiple programs to solve complex challenges, coordinate with architects on program‑specific implementations, and engage regularly with customers on technical topics. You will also provide technical mentoring to junior staff. This is a 100% on‑site position based in Linthicum, MD.

Key Responsibilities

• Convert system performance and functional requirements into optical architectures, optical layouts, and detailed optical designs for airborne platforms.
• Analyze optical design performance, generate and flow down vendor specifications, develop and execute alignment, integration, and test (AI&T) plans.
• Build and maintain physics‑based sensor models.
• Develop and quantify performance metrics for system performance.
• Understand data quality and artifact impacts.
• Represent system performance in functional and analytical models.

This position is contingent upon the successful transfer of an active U.S Government Secret Clearance and the ability to obtain Special Program Access.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of experience, Master's degree with 6 years of experience, or Ph.D. with 4 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields; additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• A current/active U.S. Government Secret Clearance is required.
• Ability to obtain Special Program Access.
• Experience in Zemax, Code V, and/or FRED for optical design and analysis.
• Experience with optical theory and detailed optical design for both imaging and non‑imaging systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team‑based environment, collaborating with systems, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with VIS, SWIR, MWIR, and/or LWIR remote sensing systems for both passive and active applications.
• Experience with material selection, including bulk optical materials, coatings, and environmental durability for VIS–LWIR optical systems.
• Experience with laser beam propagation and coupling between components (e.g., sources, fibers, free-space optics, and detectors).
• Experience performing stray light analysis, tolerancing analysis, and related performance trades.
• Hands‑on experience with optical prototyping, fabrication, and test, including interpretation of inspection and test data.
• Experience generating optical component requirements and flowing system‑level requirements down to subsystems and parts.
• Experience designing, aligning, integrating, and testing active and passive optical systems, from breadboard through flight to fielded hardware.
• Familiarity with free‑space electro‑optic device physics and technologies (e.g., lasers, modulators, detectors, and associated subsystems).
• Experience generating and executing alignment, integration, and test (AI&T) plans for optical systems and optical components.
• Understanding of photonics and photonic components, such as integrated photonic devices, fiber‑based components, and related subsystems.

Benefits

Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family. Your benefits will include the following:

• Health Plan
• Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!

Primary Level Salary Range

$135,800.00 - $203,600.00 The 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.

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.