US Citizens only, Optic / Optics / Optical Engineers / Scientist needed

A New Beginning-Genesis 2; United States; Vor Ort; USD 120.000 - 180.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A New Beginning-Genesis 2 is seeking an experienced Optical Engineer to lead the design, analysis, and testing of advanced optical and electro-optical systems for aerospace and defense. You will perform stray light analysis, non-sequential evaluation, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure mission-critical performance.

Ideal candidates have a strong background in optical engineering, Zemax and FRED, and are able to lead complex technical work while communicating with internal teams and

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s Degree with 9+ years related experience; Graduate Degree with 7+ years; or 13+ years in lieu of a degree.
• Experience with stray light analysis tools such as FRED and optical modeling.
• Willingness to obtain DoD security clearance and US citizenship; defense industry experience.
• Lead Optical Engineer for aerospace/defense optical systems; design, analysis, and testing.

Aufgaben

• Lead design, analysis, and development of advanced optical and electro-optical systems for aerospace and defense.
• Perform stray light analysis, non-sequential evaluation, and end-to-end optical performance assessment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across optical, mechanical, electrical, systems, software, and manufacturing engineering.
• Develop mitigation strategies for stray light, ghosting, scattering, and radiometric performance; support system verification.

Kenntnisse

Stray light analysis

Optical system engineering

FRED proficiency

Cross-functional leadership

Non-sequential modeling

Imaging payloads

Security clearance readiness

Zemax design

Fiber-optic tech

Ausbildung

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate Degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

FRED

Zemax

Code V

Jobbeschreibung

Must be an expert or strong with stray light or rotary joints, either skill mentioned in your resume, if not, do not bother, 7 years industry exp, not school

Those willing to work in, reside in, near Rochester NY, Santa Clara California or Blacksburg Virginia may be considered 1st. Those with an existing/active DoD Security Clearance and matching skills may/will be considered 1st

We do not expect any 1 person to have all the skills below and we may be willing to hire 2/3 or more people for our ongoing DoD needs, US Citizens only

Defense industry experience is required, willing to design weapons & counter measures

We are looking for highly talented, motivated, and versatile engineers that can create the next generation of optical solutions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• years of relevant experience in optical stray light analysis tools such as FRED
• Lead Optical Engineer to support the design, analysis, and development of advanced optical and electro-optical systems for aerospace and defense applications.
• stray light analysis and control methods, with primary responsibilities in optical system modeling, performance analysis, and non-sequential evaluation to ensure mission-critical system performance in challenging operational environments.
• support active and passive imaging payloads where stray light suppression, radiometric accuracy, and optical performance directly influence mission success.
• strong background in optical system engineering and experience with complex imaging or sensing systems across design, test, and verification.
• will work closely with cross-functional teams including optical, mechanical, electrical, systems, software, and manufacturing engineering to support programs from concept through integration and test.
• help mature payload architectures, evaluate optical trades, and quantify how stray light, throughput, -background sources, and image chain behavior affect end-to-end system performance in operational space environments.
• someone who combines strong technical knowledge and hardware experience, is comfortable leading complex technical work, and can communicate effectively with internal teams, leadership, suppliers, and customers.
• experience identifying stray light sources, developing mitigation strategies, and assessing their impact on overall optical system performance.
• Familiarity with stray light analysis tools such as FRED is highly desirable.
• Lead or support optical engineering activities for advanced imaging, sensing, and electro-optical systems.
• Lead development of non-sequential stray light and radiometric models for active and passive imaging systems, including assessment of scattering, ghosting, and optical throughput for space-based payloads.
• Support system performance analysis and verification of key optical requirements such as wavefront error, line of sight, distortion, focus, focal length, image quality, and related optical performance metrics.
• Perform end-to-end optical performance analyses that connect design features to mission-level image quality, signal-to-noise, and sensitivity outcomes, and communicate resulting risks, margins, and mitigation recommendations to program teams.
• Contribute to assessment of optical system behavior including ghosting, scattering, and stray light performance, as needed for system design and verification efforts.
• Support design trades for baffles, stops, surface treatments, contamination control, and alignment strategies to reduce stray light and preserve radiometric and optical performance through integration, test, and environmental exposure.
• Generate and review technical documentation including test plans, procedures, error budgets, requirements verification artifacts, design review materials, and final reports.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure optical designs are manufacturable, testable, and fully integrated into the broader system architecture.
• Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and resolution of optical performance issues during development and test.
• Support hardware builds, laboratory demonstrations, integration efforts, and verification campaigns.
• Interface with internal stakeholders, external partners, and suppliers to coordinate technical execution and ensure requirements are clearly understood and met.
• Contribute to risk identification, mitigation planning, and continuous improvement of engineering processes and test methods.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide guidance in optical analysis, test execution, and engineering best practices.
• Ability to obtain a federal security clearance
• typically work on several applied research projects from our larger research portfolio–which aims to provide breakthrough technologies.
• help invent, develop, and validate these technologies, and if they prove successful, assist in their commercialization by our businesses.
• a strong theoretical understanding and practical skills in the general area of precision mechanical engineering.
• inventing and developing electronic and photonic technologies for differentiated next-generation test and measurement solutions.
• working with a friendly, talented, and multi-disciplinary team of experts spanning fields from microwave and photonics to software development.
• apply your mechanical expertise as part of our team to propose, develop, and implement innovative yet practical solutions to technically challenging problems in the optical and photonics fields.
• Identify emerging photonic packaging or mounting technologies early and how they can best be harnessed
• Invent and design optical or photonic packaging and mounting concepts or implementations to significantly impact our businesses.
• Implement these innovative concepts in prototype hardware to prove feasibility.
• Work with our businesses to transfer the technology into commercial products.
• serve as a technical leader responsible for the design, development, testing, and support of advanced fiber-optic, laser, and electro-optic technologies used in mission-critical aerospace and defense applications.
• leverage deep expertise in optical systems and fiber-optic technologies to develop innovative solutions while supporting both new product development and existing products throughout their lifecycle.

Required Skills:

• experience in optical system design, development, and testing.
• Significant experience using Zemax for optical design, simulation, and optimization.
• Experience developing and integrating fiber-optic technologies and devices.
• Strong understanding of laser systems, optical alignment techniques, and imaging-based systems.
• Experience creating technical documentation, test procedures, and manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of applicable standards related to lasers, fiber-optics, and optical manufacturing processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex optical and electro-optical systems.
• Develop advanced fiber-optic technologies, including fiber-optic rotary joints, optical switches, high-power optical devices, and multi-fiber harnesses.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for optical systems, techniques, and devices supporting the Power and Data Division.
• Design, build, test, and troubleshoot optical, laser, and imaging-based systems.
• Develop innovative methods and techniques for precision optical alignment and integration.
• Use Zemax software to design, simulate, analyze, and optimize optical systems.
• Create and maintain processes, test protocols, work instructions, and documentation for fiber-optic connector terminations and harness assemblies.
• Establish and formalize work processes that comply with applicable standards and best practices related to lasers, fiber optics, and silicon processing.
• Determine laser safety classifications for laser devices and support the site Laser Safety Officer as the on-site Laser Safety Specialist.
• Evaluate, specify, and procure equipment required for fiber-optic device fabrication, assembly, and testing.
• Support production, qualification, and fielded electro-optic and fiber-optic products by investigating and resolving technical issues.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams throughout product development and production.
• Contribute to the development and transition of new optical technologies into manufacturing.

Preferred/Desired Additional Skills:

• Holds an active Secret or Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Relevant experience with the design, manufacture, integration, test and sell-off of space-based EO/IR subsystems.
• Hands-on experience with optical metrology equipment (interferometers, autocollimators, laser trackers) and phase retrieval techniques.
• Familiarity with specialized metrology software, including Zygo Mx and QED.NET.
• Experience with the design, manufacture, integration, test, and sell-off of space-based EO/IR subsystems.
• Experience with Optical Design software such as CodeV, Zemax OpticStudio
• Ability to collaborate across all levels of leadership.
• Work collaboratively with others and complete assignments with a team-oriented approach.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills – taking complex concepts and sharing with others.
• Ability to architect an end-to-end space system with a full understanding of the product lifecycle.
• Experience with project management aspects of technology development programs.
• Experience with estimating and managing costs & creating and managing schedule
• Candidate with an active Top Secret/SCI clearance is highly desirable.
• Optical Engineering experience with EO/IR space-based payloads, vehicle systems, and/or high performance imaging systems.
• Experience with programming languages such as Matlab and Python
• Working knowledge of optical scatter mechanisms, BSDF/BRDF concepts, ghost path analysis, and the interaction between optical design choices and system-level performance.
• Expertise in materials science and material selection in opto-mechanical design
• Familiarity with photonics integrated circuit (PIC) technologies
• Experience designing tools and fixtures to aid in alignment, fabrication, gluing, and assembly of lasers, lenses, interferometers, PICs, or optical components
• Familiarity with optical design principles and ray tracing software (Code V, Zemax, or equivalent)
• Familiarity with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)
• Familiarity with nano-opto-electro-mechanical systems (NOEMS)
• Lab automation – instrument control and data acquisition

Additional Fiber Optic & Photonics Techniques:

• Experience with fiber-optic rotary joints, optical switches, multi-fiber harnesses, and high-power optical devices.
• Experience supporting manufacturing and production environments.
• Experience developing manufacturing processes for silicon micromachined devices and/or MEMS-based technologies.
• Laser Safety Officer experience or certification.