Electro-Optical Systems Engineer

Space Dynamics Laboratory•North Logan, UT

1d•$126,000 - $200,000

About The Position

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is seeking an experienced Electro-Optical Systems Engineer to join its Strategic & Military Space Division. The role provides technical leadership across optical physics, sensor architecture, and space systems engineering, supporting the architecture, design, modeling, integration, and calibration of advanced visible and infrared payloads for military and civil space applications. The engineer works with multidisciplinary mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software teams and briefs external Government sponsors throughout the program lifecycle, from concept development through flight hardware delivery. The position also supports space programs for the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, contributing to satellite and sensor systems for national security missions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in physics, optical engineering, astronomy, or a closely related technical discipline.
Relevant industry or research experience: 10+ years with a bachelor’s degree, 8+ years with a master’s degree, or 4+ years with a PhD.
U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
Advanced proficiency in Python or MATLAB for multidimensional array manipulation, automated image processing, and radiometric pipeline development.
Mastery of visible and thermal infrared physics, including Planck’s Law, blackbody calibration sources, detector noise characteristics, and radiometric measurement budgets.
Understanding of optical system behavior under thermal, mechanical, structural, and space-environment constraints, including TVAC, radiation, jitter, and outgassing.
Technical ownership capability in one or more core EO domains: optical architecture, stray light or diffraction analysis, precision optical alignment, or flight hardware calibration.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and a record of leading cross-functional teams, managing competing priorities, and delivering under schedule pressure.
Willingness and ability to travel as required for integration, testing, and customer reviews, typically less than 15%.

Nice To Haves

PhD in physics, optical engineering, astronomy, or a closely related technical discipline.
Active TS/SCI clearance.
Direct experience characterizing or integrating visible and infrared detector focal plane assemblies, including CCD, CMOS, InSb, HgCdTe, or microbolometers.
Hands-on experience with optical modeling software such as Zemax OpticStudio, FRED, CODE V, or OSLO for optical design, stray light analysis, and Narcissus effect analysis.
Experience driving flight instrument hardware through build, TVAC test, and delivery phases in a NASA, DoW, or national laboratory environment.
Familiarity with Earned Value Management System (EVMS) principles or Cost Account Management (CAM), or willingness to learn and oversee technical cost and schedule baselines with program managers.

Responsibilities

Lead the electro-optical payload subsystem through formal milestone reviews, including SRR, PDR, and CDR.
Prepare review packages, establish and maintain technical performance measures (TPMs), manage requirements traceability artifacts, and resolve programmatic action items.
Develop and apply optical design methods, radiometric and photometric models, and trade studies addressing visible and infrared sensor performance, stray light mitigation, and image processing.
Lead and execute optical alignment, benchtop integration, ambient testing, and thermal vacuum (TVAC) calibration campaigns for visible, short-wave, mid-wave, and long-wave infrared flight payloads.
Write, maintain, and execute automated data-reduction pipelines in Python or MATLAB for multidimensional array manipulation, sensor characterization, and image-quality analysis.
Represent the technical team in customer briefings, technical interchange meetings, and progress reviews, communicating technical risks, performance models, and test results.
Provide work leadership, mentorship, and career-development support for junior and mid-level engineers.
Lead interdisciplinary teams in proposal efforts, concept studies, and architecture trades for small- to mid-sized space programs.
Document innovation through technical papers, conference presentations, and internal research and development reports.