Senior Optical Engineer

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design, development, integration, and validation of complex engineering systems across sensing, processing, and platform domains.
• Serve as a technical authority across multiple domains, including sensors, FPA/imaging systems, FPGA/digital processing, RF systems, and optical/photonic technologies.
• Resolve complex technical challenges, including cross-domain integration issues, performance shortfalls, and undefined system behaviors.
• Architect and implement robust system solutions, making and defending critical design decisions with minimal oversight.
• Lead deep-dive debugging and root cause analysis across hardware, firmware, and software, driving issues to closure.
• Define and execute comprehensive test and validation strategies, including lab, field, and operational environments.
• Perform and lead high-impact trade studies, balancing performance, cost, schedule and risk and coordinate with the Program Manager and Stakeholders to make final technical decisions within scope.
• Drive system integration and deployment, ensuring performance meets mission and operational requirements.
• Develop and deliver high-quality technical outputs including design documentation, performance analyses, and additional program deliverables for internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, setting engineering standards and guiding less experienced engineers through complex problem solving.
• Lead integration and performance evaluation of systems on deployable platforms, including UAS, ensuring mission effectiveness.
• Apply system expertise to UAS and C-UAS applications, including detection tracking, identification, and performance optimization in real-world environments.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM field (Remote Sensing, Photonics, Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering) with 10+ years of relevant experience or a Master’s Degree in relevant field with 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance (interim clearance is required to start). Please note, US Citizenship is required to obtain a secret clearance.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a technical lead or subject matter expert across multiple engineering domains, not limited to a single specialty.
• Deep experience in at least one core domain with working expertise across several other domains including sensors/imaging, FPGA/digital systems, RF systems, or optical/photonic systems.
• Experience with system integration, debugging, and performance optimization across hardware, firmware, and software.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end system performance, including signal chains, noise sources, data processing, and environmental effects.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering trade studies and making critical technical decisions with limited oversight.
• Experience defining and executing advanced test methodologies, including lab and field environments.
• Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, instrumentation, and system-level validation.
• Prioritize work, manage competing tasks, and deliver results in alignment with project schedules and budget expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience spanning multiple domains including sensors and imaging systems, FPGA and digital signal processing, RF systems and signal chains, optical and photonic systems, including laser technologies.
• Active Secret Clearance
• Strong programming experience for analysis, automation, or algorithm development utilizing C++, Python, and/or MATLAB.
• Experience integrating and deployment systems on UAS and/or other mobile/airborne platforms.
• Experience with C-UAS applications, including detection, tracking, and identification systems.
• Experience leading system architecture development and design reviews.
• Prior experience service as a technical lead responsible for delivery of major subsystems or full systems.
• Prior experience mentoring junior engineers or leading small technical efforts.

Compensation Details

$120,000 - $160,000 annually

Benefits Overview

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retail benefits (including 401(k) matching)
• Retirement benefits
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax-saving options
• Disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance