Staff Optomechanical Engineer - 5

0902 SP - Launch Vehicles; United States; On-site; USD 153,000 - 229,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance may be available

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Chandler, AZ, seeks a Staff Optomechanical Engineer to lead mechanical design of optical assemblies and structures for advanced seeker systems. You will perform STOP/SILOS analyses, develop complex 3D CAD models, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust, producible solutions for flight hardware.

The role requires a DoD Secret clearance, strong communication skills, and expertise with CREO/NX, and optical design tools such as ZEMAX or Code V.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field with substantial experience.
• Active DoD Secret clearance required and within scope at time of application.
• Experience in opto-mechanical/precision electro-mechanical design, analysis, and integration.
• Strong ability in structural/thermal analysis and their impact on optical performance.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools and DOE-driven design of experiments.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design of optical assemblies, mounts, and structures for imaging and sensing.
• Perform STOP and SILOS analyses to ensure performance under environmental conditions.
• Create complex 3D CAD models and detailed drawings with documentation.
• Collaborate across optical, systems, electrical, and manufacturing teams to ensure producibility.
• Support environmental test planning and correlate analysis with test results.
• Review designs and present findings to program leadership and customers.

Skills

Opto-mechanical design

Thermal analysis

Structural analysis

DOE experience

Technical communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CREO

NX

SolidWorks

ZEMAX

Code V

FRED

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE

Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: 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 a Staff Optomechanical Engineer to 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 for design, integration, and testing of development and flight hardware. The role focuses on the mechanical design and analysis of optical assemblies and structures, ensuring robust performance in demanding flight and environmental conditions.

Responsibilities

• Lead or contribute to the mechanical design of optical assemblies, mounts, and structures for imaging and sensing systems.
• Perform Structural, Thermal, and Optical Performance (STOP) analysis and Structurally Induced Line of Sight (SILOS) analysis to ensure system performance over expected environmental and operational conditions.
• Develop complex 3D CAD models, detailed part/assembly drawings, and associated documentation.
• Work collaboratively with optical, systems, electrical, and manufacturing engineering teams to refine requirements and ensure design feasibility and producibility.
• Support environmental test planning, execution, and correlation of analysis with test results (vibration, thermal, shock, etc.).
• Serve as a reviewer in design reviews and present technical findings and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and design updates for prototype and production hardware.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of error budgets related to optomechanical performance and line-of-sight stability

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline from an accredited university and 12 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree and 10 years of experience; or a PhD and 8 years of experience.
• Active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope.
• Substantial experience with opto-mechanical or precision electro-mechanical design, analysis, and integration.
• Demonstrated skill in structural and thermal analysis methods and their impact on optical performance (e.g., STOP/SILOS concepts); ANSYS preferred.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools (e.g., CREO, NX, SolidWorks); NX preferred.
• Knowledge of configuring parametric CAD models in support of Design of Experiment (DOE).
• Experience with optical imaging systems in one or more bands (e.g., visible through LWIR) and the impacts of optical component mounting and alignment.
• Expertise in relevant industry standards (such as ISO, MIL-STD)
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills, including the ability to generate clear documentation and present design/analysis results.
• Experience with presenting detailed and concise technical content to program leadership and customer leadership/SMEs

Preferred Qualifications

• MS/PhD in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
• Hands-on experience with STOP and SILOS modeling workflows and integration with optical design tools.
• Experience with missile systems, seeker systems, or other high-reliability, environmentally challenging applications.
• Previous experience with DoD missile defense programs and associated standards
• Experience with EO systems including tolerance analysis, precision alignment, error budgets, and opto-mechanical design/integration.
• Experience configuring parametric CAD models for thermal/structural analysis in support of DOE, with statistical analysis performed using tools such as JMP.
• Experience with optical design tools such as ZEMAX, Code V, and FRED.
• Experience supporting hardware test campaigns and correlating analysis to measured performance.

Primary Level Salary Range

Primary Level Salary Range: $152,900.00 - $229,300.00 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.

Application Period

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Company Overview

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.