Staff Optomechanical Engineer – Secret Clearance

Northrop Grumman; Chandler (AZ); On-site; USD 145,000 - 217,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Secret clearance

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Chandler, AZ seeks a Staff Optomechanical Engineer to design, analyze, and test optical assemblies and structures for imaging and sensing systems. You will lead STOP/SILOS analyses and collaborate across mechanical, optical, and electrical teams to ensure robust performance in flight and environmental conditions.

Qualifications include a PhD/MS with extensive opto-mechanical experience, proficiency in CREO/NX/SolidWorks and ANSYS, and knowledge of ISO/MIL-STD

Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government DoD Secret clearance at time of application, current and within scope.
• Strong experience in opto-mechanical or precision electro-mechanical design, analysis, and integration.
• Proficiency with structural and thermal analysis methods and their impact on optical performance (STOP/SILOS); ANSYS preferred.
• Experience with 3D CAD tools (CREO, NX, SolidWorks; NX preferred).
• Experience with optical imaging systems in visible through LWIR bands and the mounting/alignment impacts.
• Familiarity with ISO/MIL-STD standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to present design/analysis results to leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead or contribute to the mechanical design of optical assemblies, mounts, and structures for imaging and sensing systems.
• Perform STOP and SILOS analyses to ensure performance under environmental conditions.
• Develop complex 3D CAD models, detailed part/assembly drawings, and associated documentation.
• Collaborate with optical, systems, electrical, and manufacturing teams to refine requirements and ensure design feasibility.
• Support environmental test planning, execution, and correlation of analysis with test results.
• Serve as a reviewer in design reviews and present technical findings to stakeholders.
• Lead troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and design updates for prototype and production hardware.
• Assist with development and maintenance of error budgets related to optomechanical performance and line-of-sight stability.

Skills

Opto-mechanical design

Structural analysis

Thermal analysis

STOP/SILOS analysis

3D CAD tools

Creo/NX/SolidWorks

DOE (Design of Experiments)

Optical imaging systems knowledge

ISO/MIL-STD standards

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Optical Engineering or Physics

MS/PhD in Optical/Mechanical Engineering or Physics

Tools

ANSYS

ZEMAX/Code V/FRED

Job description

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Chandler, AZ seeks a Staff Optomechanical Engineer to design, analyze, and test optical assemblies and structures for imaging and sensing systems. You will lead STOP/SILOS analyses and collaborate across mechanical, optical, and electrical teams to ensure robust performance in flight and environmental conditions.

Qualifications include a PhD/MS with extensive opto-mechanical experience, proficiency in CREO/NX/SolidWorks and ANSYS, and knowledge of ISO/MIL-STD