Optical Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton•Dahlgren, VA

7h•$77,500 - $176,000•Onsite

About The Position

Booz Allen is seeking an Optical Engineer to support testing of state-of-the-art directed energy weapon systems for the U.S. Navy and other Department of War entities. The role provides optical technical expertise for the testing of electro-optic (EO) components and weapon systems, applying experience in optics and lasers to enhance warfighter capabilities. The engineer will work in a professional, cross-functional environment and collaborate with specialties such as mechanical, optical, and software engineering. The position is located in Dahlgren, Virginia, with an additional location in King George, Virginia; remote work is not offered.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience with optical test equipment such as oscilloscopes, power meters, photodiodes, detectors, interferometers, wavefront sensors, spectrometers, or beam profilers.
At least 5 years of experience aligning optical components, cameras, lasers, or opto-mechanics.
At least 3 years of laboratory experience, including designing test setups, developing test plans, recording data, and reporting results.
Experience with laser systems, including one or more of gain media, pump sources, thermal management and control, opto-mechanics, optical coatings, substrates, characterization and specification, beam shaping, or beam control.
Experience with image processing for object tracking, detection, recognition, and identification, and with testing EO sensors for integration into weapons systems.
Knowledge of major laser system components and integration, including the optical train.
Ability to collaborate with engineering specialties such as mechanical, optical, or software engineering on a functional team developing optical systems.
Ability to learn, adapt, and assist with testing high-priority weapons systems in a professional environment.
Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.
Bachelor’s degree in Optics, Physics, or Electrical Engineering.

Nice To Haves

At least 10 years of experience working with U.S. Navy or other military service laser and EO systems.
At least 5 years of experience with high-energy laser (HEL) weapon systems, including fiber laser technology.
At least 5 years of experience with ISR EO technology development, analysis, test and evaluation, and platform integration.
Experience with design and analysis software such as FRED, Zemax, WaveTrain, Solidworks, or MATLAB, including creating models for the design and layout of optical ISR systems.
Experience with pulsed lasers, fiber optics, free-space optics, nonlinear optics, spectroscopy, imaging and radiometric tools, or integrated photonics.
Experience analyzing HEL interactions with materials and components, laser propagation theory, and experiments, including modeling and characterizing laser performance in relevant military environments and ranges.
Knowledge of practical problems associated with designing, building, integrating, and testing laser weapons systems.
A master’s degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field is preferred; a doctorate in one of these fields is a plus.

Responsibilities

Support testing of directed energy weapon systems and electro-optic components.
Provide optical technical expertise to the U.S. Navy and other Department of War entities.
Design laboratory test setups and develop test plans; record data and report meaningful results.
Align optical components, cameras, lasers, and opto-mechanics.
Test EO sensors and support their integration into weapons systems.
Collaborate across engineering specialties in the development of optical systems.
Assist with testing high-priority weapons systems.