Optical Systems Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton•Colorado Springs, CO

2d•$99,000 - $225,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Optical Systems Engineer with expertise in lasers, optical systems, and hands-on laboratory development to mature advanced optical technologies from early-stage R&D prototypes into robust, field-deployable systems. You'll combine your strong technical knowledge of laser systems, optical architectures, opto-mechanical integration, alignment, controls, and optical measurements with the ability to lead engineers and technicians through system development, integration, testing, and transition to production. This position serves as a critical bridge between R&D and engineering and product development, translating emerging technologies into reliable, manufacturable, maintainable, and field-ready systems with progressively higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). The successful candidate will work directly in the laboratory, troubleshoot complex optical systems, develop experimental methods, guide technical teams, and establish processes for transitioning research concepts into operational systems across Laboratory, Engineering, R&D, and Product and Field environments.

Requirements

10+ years of experience developing optical, laser, photonic, or electro-optical systems
Experience with optical alignment, characterization, troubleshooting, and integration
Experience with photodiodes or APDs, optical power measurement, spectroscopy, beam characterization, and optical noise measurement
Experience with fiber-optic and free-space optical systems
Experience transitioning experimental prototypes into mature engineering systems or products
Experience leading and collaborating with engineers, scientists, and technicians in laboratory and system-engineering environments
Knowledge of laser linewidth, frequency and power stability, frequency and intensity noise or RIN, mode behavior, and wavelength stability
Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance
Master’s degree in an optical engineering, photonics, physics, or electrical engineering field

Nice To Haves

Experience with atomic, quantum, spectroscopy, sensing, or photonic systems.
Experience with Rydberg-atom sensing, atomic spectroscopy, RF or optical sensing, or integrated RF and microwave systems
Experience developing automated laboratory test systems
Experience with TRL maturation, system qualification, and field deployment.
Experience in government, defense, aerospace, or other high-reliability environments
Experience with Pound–Drever–Hall (PDH) and offset phase locking
Experience in continuous-wave and ultrastable lasers, frequency stabilization, linewidth and frequency-noise reduction, RIN, beam delivery, optical modulation, fiber optics, nonlinear optics, and optical detection
Doctorate degree in an optical engineering, photonics, physics, or electrical engineering field

Responsibilities

Lead the design, integration, characterization, and testing of complex optical and laser systems.
Define system architectures, requirements, specifications, and performance metrics.
Develop test configurations, and verification methods.
Troubleshoot and improve optical subsystems and integrated systems with R&D team
Translate research results into engineering requirements and development plans.
Mature prototypes from laboratory demonstrations through engineering development and field deployment.
Assess performance, reliability, manufacturability, maintainability, and deployment readiness.
Identify technical risks and establish mitigation strategies.
Lead design reviews, verification planning, acceptance testing, and technology transfer.
Provide technical direction to engineers, scientists, technicians, and multidisciplinary teams.
Assign tasks, set priorities, and coordinate resources with the technical director.
Establish best practices for optical design, testing, documentation, configuration management, and integration.
Convert mission requirements into measurable subsystem specifications.
Collaborate with electrical, RF, mechanical, software, firmware, quality, and manufacturing teams.
Apply design-for-reliability, manufacturability, and maintainability principles.
Support qualification, reliability, calibration, acceptance testing, deployment, and field troubleshooting.
Create system specifications, interface-control documents, test procedures, alignment guides, troubleshooting guides, and verification documentation.