Senior Optical Systems Engineer

We are seeking a Senior Optical Systems Engineer to join our expanding optical engineering organization. This role focuses on the design, modeling, and integration of electro-optical and infrared payloads for next-generation spacecraft supporting high-impact government missions.

The ideal candidate will have seven or more years of optical systems engineering experience and enjoy working on design, simulation, modeling, and payload-to-spacecraft interface definition. Experience with spacecraft bus and EO/IR payload integration is highly desirable. Backgrounds in space lasers, laser communications, active sensors, or optical phenomenology are particularly valuable.

Key responsibilities include developing and validating requirements for EO and IR sensors, laser systems, and optical communication terminals. You will define interfaces between payloads, spacecraft bus, and mission processing systems while supporting mission performance budgeting and phenomenology studies. The role involves building modeling and simulation tools to evaluate mission performance, performing radiometric modeling, imaging performance analysis, and detection threshold calculations.

You will develop and execute ground and orbital testing protocols, validate sensor performance against mission expectations, and support calibration and on-orbit performance evaluation. Additional duties include managing supplier performance and technical deliverables, coordinating work statements, tracking technical progress, and contributing to proposals and new business opportunities.

This end-to-end optical systems position supports mission design, simulation, payload integration, testing, and on-orbit validation. The role offers opportunities to mentor junior engineers and work on cutting-edge space technology. U.S. citizenship is required, though active security clearance is not necessary at the time of application. Relocation support is available for qualified candidates.