[Remote] US Citizens only, Optic / Optics / Optical Engineers / Scientist needed

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. A New Beginning-Genesis 2 is seeking a Lead Optical Engineer for aerospace and defense work. The role focuses on designing, analyzing, testing, and integrating optical and electro-optical systems, with particular emphasis on stray-light analysis, imaging payload performance, and fiber-optic technologies.

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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Skills

• Must be an expert or strong with stray light or rotary joints, either skill mentioned in your resume
• 7 years industry exp, not school
• Defense industry experience is required
• 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
• Strong background in optical system engineering and experience with complex imaging or sensing systems across design, test, and verification
• Experience identifying stray light sources, developing mitigation strategies, and assessing their impact on overall optical system performance
• Ability to obtain a federal security clearance
• 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
• Familiarity with stray light analysis tools such as FRED is highly desirable

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