Principal EO Signal Image Processing Engineer - 3
$108,200–$162,400 year
On-siteChandler, Arizona, United States
Job Summary
Conduct optical design, analysis, and tolerancing for imaging and sensing systems across visible through LWIR spectral bands. Perform wavefront error, MTF, and SILOS stability analyses while developing error budgets that account for thermal, structural, and alignment effects. Collaborate with opto-mechanical and systems engineers to define requirements, develop 3D CAD models, and ensure designs are realizable and testable. Lead laboratory and environmental test activities, including optical alignment and calibration, to correlate analysis with performance verification. Assist with root-cause analysis for prototype and production hardware issues.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of relevant experience
- Master's degree and 3 years of experience
- PhD and 1 year of experience
- Active U.S. Government - Secret security clearance at time of application
- Demonstrated experience with optical systems used in imaging, sensing, or seeker applications
- Experience with optical performance analysis and an understanding of how structural and thermal environments affect imaging quality and line of sight
- Proficiency with optical modeling tools (e.g., ZEMAX, Code V, FRED, or equivalent) for design, analysis, and tolerancing
- Experience with 3D CAD tools (e.g., CREO, NX, SolidWorks)
- Experience with ANSYS Mechanical
- Experience with optical imaging systems in one or more spectral bands (e.g., visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR)
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills for complex optical/optomechanical challenges in a project environment
- Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to generate clear documentation and present optical design/analysis results to technical and non-technical audiences
- Relocation assistance may be available
- Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time
- U.S. Citizenship
Desired Qualifications
- MS or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or Mechanical Engineering with a focus on optical systems
- Previous experience with DoD missile defense or seeker programs, including familiarity with performance verification frameworks, environmental qualification, and flight test correlation
- Hands-on experience with STOP and SILOS modeling workflows and integration of structural/thermal results with optical design tools
- Experience with missile systems, seeker systems, or other high-reliability, environmentally challenging electro-optical applications
- Previous experience or knowledge of DoD missile defense programs and associated standards
- Deep experience with EO systems, including optical design, analysis and tolerancing, stray-light control, error budgets, radiometric budgets, opto-mechanical design, and focal plane technologies
- Proficiency with optical design tools such as ZEMAX, Code V, FRED, and mechanical/optomechanical CAD tools such as NX and SolidWorks
- Experience planning and executing optical and environmental test campaigns and correlating measured optical performance to predictive analyses
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