Staff Optical Engineer
You will act as the technical lead developing infrared remote sensing instruments. You will be the definitive technical authority for a new optical subsystem, owning performance metrics while defining and driving hands-on assembly, integration, and test of critical optical and optomechanical subsystems. You will dive into everything from conceptual design and error budgeting to precision optical metrology and rigorous hardware execution in a fast-paced, small-team environment.
Responsibilities
- Own the delivery of optical subsystems to the instrument program as the primary technical lead
- Own and manage comprehensive optical error budgets and performance metrics including image quality (MTF, WFE), stray light, and radiometric throughput from conceptual design through hardware build and test
- Collaborate with systems engineering to support cross-functional technical budgets including thermal constraints and line-of-sight pointing/jitter
- Define and drive the strategy for optical instrument assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) planning and implementation
- Support subsystem and instrument level functional, performance, and environmental testing including vibration, thermal-vacuum, and thermal stress
- Champion continuous improvement of testing methodologies, tools, and best practices
Requirements
- Ph.D. and 5+ years of experience developing imaging systems and infrared remote sensing instruments; or M.S. and 8+ years industry experience; or B.S. and 10+ years industry experience
- Expertise in optical design and analysis (Zemax, Code V, FRED) including STOP analysis, error budgets, and component specifications with vendors
- Extensive hands-on experience with precision optical metrology, advanced AI&T execution, root cause analysis, and test data reporting
- Software proficiency in one or more languages (e.g., Python, C++) for data analysis and automation
- Demonstrated technical leadership and project management skills
- Ability to obtain security clearance strongly preferred
Benefits
- Equity compensation
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401k retirement plan
- Short and long term disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Three weeks paid vacation
- 12 paid holidays
- Unlimited sick time
- Paid parental leave