Senior Optical Engineer

Duties & Responsibilities

• Leverage expertise in optics design and new optics technologies to lead trades analyses in performance and size, weight, power, and cost for satellite optical payloads.
• Lead optical system design in coordination with optical designers and functional teammates to ensure and system level requirements and optical flowdowns are met.
• Familiarization with modeling tools to develop insights in co-design of different optical technologies in a single optical payload.
• Affordability in roadmap development of novel imaging technologies for future space systems and explore nascent concepts.
• Experience in integration of optical assemblies including managing optical fabrication subcontractors, design for manufacture and test, and hands-on assistance to Manufacturing Engineering in aligning and performance characterization.
• Interacts with senior internal and external personnel on technical matters requiring coordination between organizations.
• Provides leadership, direction and guidance for research into the solution of engineering problems.
• Advises or directs the planning for the implementation of engineering solutions, including strategic objectives and timetables.
• Participates or directs the allocation of technical resources and professional staff to achieve objectives.
• Prepares status/progress reports and ensure compliance, reporting, and safety standards are maintained.
• Acts as spokesperson and represents the technical capabilities of the organization to national audiences.
• Functions as a key participant in attracting and retaining engineering business as well as professional staff.
• Maintains the strict confidentiality of sensitive information.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, thirteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or ten or more years with a PhD.
• May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Must be a nationally recognized expert in one or more engineering fields as demonstrated by:
• Has demonstrated leadership ability by directing/developing the solution(s) to highly technical and complex engineering problems, and has been a key participant in attracting and retaining engineering business as well as professional staff.
• Must possess the ability to guide the resolution of unusually complex technical problems;
• Champion the development of new concepts and principles;
• Serve as an expert spokesperson on those concepts and principles.