Optical Engineer II

We are seeking an Optical Engineer to design and analyze optical and electro-optical systems, primarily for space applications. Our team develops imaging, sensing, and laser systems from early concepts through flight hardware. You will carry out optical design, modeling, and analysis tasks on assigned parts of these systems, support hands-on alignment, integration, and test, and see your designs built and tested. You will solve optical problems of moderate scope, represent optics on your project team, and work alongside senior optical engineers who review your work and help you grow your skills.

This role centers on optical design and analysis. We are looking for strong optics fundamentals and some hands-on design or analysis experience, and we do not expect experience in every area listed below. A Master's degree or Ph.D. in optics or a related field can take the place of industry experience. Space flight experience is a plus.

Responsibilities:

• Perform optical design tasks for assigned systems and components, such as lens and mirror design, optimization, and design updates (e.g., telescopes, relay optics, beam expanders).
• Build optical models and analyze performance against requirements (e.g., image quality, radiometry, or beam propagation).
• Perform tolerance and sensitivity analyses, and support structural-thermal-optical performance (STOP) analyses with structural and thermal analysts.
• Track predicted optical performance against requirements and update optical error budgets as designs mature.
• Prepare optical component specifications and review vendor inspection and test data.
• Support optical alignment, integration, and test, including test setup, data collection and reduction, and comparison of measured performance with model predictions.
• Support troubleshooting of optical performance issues in prototype and flight hardware.
• Work with mechanical, thermal, systems, stray light, and test engineers on your project team to resolve optical interface questions.
• Document analyses and test results in technical memos and reports, and present your work in team and design reviews.

• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One or more years of related optical engineering experience, or a Master's degree or Ph.D. in optical engineering, physics, or a related field.
• Experience performing optical design or analysis (e.g., ray tracing, optical performance modeling, or tolerancing) through courses, professional work, or graduate research.
• Understanding of geometrical and physical optics and common optical quality metrics (e.g., wavefront error, MTF, encircled energy).
• Experience analyzing model or test data (e.g., using MATLAB, Python, or equivalent tools).
• Experience documenting technical work and presenting results to an engineering team.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.

• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance, or active Top Secret clearance with eligibility for SCI or other required compartmented access.
• Experience using Zemax OpticStudio or CODE V for optical design, optimization, and tolerancing.
• Familiarity with how structural and thermal effects change optical performance (e.g., STOP analysis).
• Experience with radiometry or sensor performance modeling.
• Hands-on optical lab experience (e.g., alignment, interferometry, MTF, or beam profiling), including test data reduction.
• Familiarity with stray light and ghost mitigation techniques (e.g., baffles, stops, coatings).
• Familiarity with optical materials, coatings, and how optical components are fabricated and specified.
• Experience with optical hardware for space flight or other demanding environments.
• Proficient in AI prompting as it applies to this position and practice