Lead, Optical Engineering - Stray light

About the role

L3Harris is seeking a Lead Optical Engineer to support the design, analysis, and development of advanced optical and electro-optical systems for aerospace and defense applications. The role focuses on stray light analysis and control methods, with responsibilities in optical system modeling, performance analysis, and non-sequential evaluation.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• 2-3 years of relevant experience in optical stray light analysis tools such as FRED.
• Ability to obtain a federal security clearance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 9 years of prior relevant experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of prior related experience with a Graduate Degree.
• Minimum of 13 years of prior related experience without a degree.
• 2-3 years of relevant experience in optical stray light analysis tools such as FRED.
• Ability to obtain a federal security clearance.

Skills

• Strong technical knowledge and hardware experience.
• Comfortable leading complex technical work.
• Effective communication skills.
• Understanding of optical scatter mechanisms, BSDF/BRDF concepts, ghost path analysis, and the interaction between optical design choices and system-level performance.

Benefits

The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Pay

The salary range for this role in New York state is $117,000 - $218,000. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location.

Schedule

9/80 (Every Other Friday Off!)