Next-Gen Technology Engineer — Optical Communications

Peraton • Reston, VA

6d • $112,000 - $179,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Peraton's Space and Mission Solutions CTO Office is hiring an Optical Communications engineer to support an active and growing portfolio of free-space optical and laser-based SATCOM pursuits. This is a hands-on technical execution role — you will build models, develop prototypes and demonstrations, author proposal content, and provide engineering expertise that directly enables Peraton to compete and win in the optical communications market and a System Integrator or Prime. This is a full-time, on-site position based in Reston, Virginia, with the ability to travel to other Peraton sites and customer locations as needed. This role reports directly to the CTO.
As a Next-Gen Technology Engineer, you are technology-aligned and a mission-enabler. You will support efforts across the Space sector and Peraton to provide expertise in free-space optical systems such as link budget analysis, atmospheric turbulence modeling, pointing/acquisition/tracking, and ground terminal architecture. As part of this you will inform and execute optical comm strategy for the sector to include building models, analyzed real links, overseeing and building prototypes/demonstrations for customers, and worked through the hard physics of getting a laser beam from space to ground reliably.
This role is designed for an optical systems engineer or photonics specialist who has worked on defense or space-related optical communication programs and is ready to translate that expertise into competitive proposal content and technical solutions.

Requirements

• A minimum of 5+ years of experience with a BS/BA in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics, or related field; 3+ years with MS/MA; or 0+ years with PhD.
• Direct experience in free-space optical communications, photonics, or laser-based SATCOM systems — you have worked on real programs, not just academic or laboratory settings
• Demonstrated proficiency in free-space optical system modeling and link analysis, including atmospheric effects, pointing error budgets, and link margin calculations
• Experience with optical ground terminal design, wavefront correction systems, and pointing/acquisition/tracking mechanisms
• Demonstrated experience contributing to technical volumes on competitive government proposals — you have owned sections, not just reviewed them
• Proven ability to work effectively in fast-paced proposal environments with compressed timelines and evolving requirements
• Strong written communication skills — ability to write clear, compelling, evaluator-focused technical content
• U.S. Citizenship required; must have the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance

Nice To Haves

• An active TS/SCI clearance is highly desired
• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a closely related field
• Experience with DoD lifecycle management processes for SATCOM systems from engineering design through integration, test, deployment, operations, and sustainment
• Exposure to SATCOM or defense-related optical communication programs, particularly involving ground terminals and space-to-ground laser links
• Familiarity with atmospheric mitigation strategies including adaptive optics, site diversity, and aperture averaging
• Experience with CCSDS optical communications standards or other space link protocols
• Experience working alongside or in support of a business development or capture team

Responsibilities

• Develop concepts of operations for optical SATCOM ground terminal systems, translating mission requirements into technically sound architectures
• Review, develop, analyze, and allocate requirements for free-space optical communication links and ground terminals across the S&I pursuit portfolio
• Build and exercise performance models including link budget analysis, atmospheric turbulence modeling, pointing/acquisition/tracking simulations, and mitigation techniques such as adaptive optics and wavefront correction
• Provide technical guidance on deploying optical SATCOM systems, including optical ground terminals, wavefront correction, and ATP mechanisms
• Support the integration of optical ground terminals into broader SATCOM architectures
• Analyze real link scenarios, work through the physics of space-to-ground laser propagation, and produce technically defensible results that inform solution design
• Contribute to technical volumes and technical approaches for proposals involving optical communications, owning content from outline through submission
• Conduct competitive analysis and develop differentiation strategies that highlight Peraton's technical depth in optical communications
• Support integration of optical ground terminals into broader SATCOM architectures, working with program engineering teams on system design, test, and validation
• Maintain awareness of emerging optical communications technologies, DoD investment priorities, and program office activity to inform pursuit strategy
• Mentor junior engineers and proposal contributors on optical systems concepts, link analysis, and technical writing
• Actively work to expand optical communications expertise within the sector — this includes structured knowledge transfer, not just answering questions when asked

Benefits

• At Peraton, our benefits are designed to help keep you at your best beyond the work you do with us daily.
• We’re fully committed to the growth of our employees.
• From fully comprehensive medical plans to tuition reimbursement, tuition assistance, and fertility treatment, we are there to support you all the way.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level