Optical Systems Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton•Colorado Springs, CO

About The Position

Booz Allen is seeking an experienced Optical Systems Engineer to advance optical technologies from early-stage research prototypes into robust, field-deployable systems. The role combines hands-on laboratory work and technical leadership across laser systems, optical architectures, opto-mechanical integration, alignment, controls, and optical measurements. The engineer will connect research and product development by translating emerging technologies into reliable, manufacturable, maintainable systems at progressively higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). The successful candidate will troubleshoot complex optical systems, develop experimental methods, guide engineers and technicians through development and integration, and establish processes for transitioning research concepts into operational systems. The work spans laboratory, engineering, R&D, product, and field environments and includes coordination with multidisciplinary technical teams.

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 optical engineering, photonics, physics, or electrical engineering.

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 optical engineering, photonics, physics, or electrical engineering.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, integration, characterization, and testing of complex optical and laser systems.
Define system architectures, requirements, specifications, performance metrics, test configurations, and verification methods.
Troubleshoot and improve optical subsystems and integrated systems with the 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.