Scientist, Optical Systems Engineering

L3Harris•Fort Wayne, FL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is part of the L3Harris Space Systems Sector within the Space and Mission Systems Segment, developing products for space-based and ground-based customer missions. The Optical Systems Engineer supports program teams across the system lifecycle, contributing to requirements and interface management, system design, risk and opportunity management, verification and test planning, and event-based activities. The role requires collaboration and leadership in multidisciplinary environments. The position applies optical communications and electrical engineering principles to hardware development. It covers design and analysis of free-space optical communication links and ground terminals, modeling and simulation, integration of optical terminals into satellite architectures, and oversight of space-hardware development and testing. The engineer leads technical teams and programs, manages system and component requirements, works with subcontractors, supports testing and defect resolution, and contributes to customer-needs analysis, design trades, risk mitigation, and business pursuits. The position is located in Palm Bay, Florida, and requires the ability to obtain a U.S. DoD Secret security clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience in related fields; or a graduate degree and a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience; or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 16 years of prior related experience.
Experience with optical design, integration, and test of optical assemblies.
Experience leading technical teams.
Must be able to obtain a U.S. DoD Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the Space Development Agency (SDA) OCT Standard.
Experience with MATLAB for data analysis and automation of testing procedures.
Familiarity with evaluating and selecting vendors to supply critical components for advanced systems.
Experience with earned value management.
Experience using Zemax and/or Code V optical software for advanced design and analysis.
Experience with FRED or similar stray-light analysis software for evaluating and mitigating optical-system interference.
Active DoD Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

Apply optical communications and electrical engineering principles to hardware development.
Review, develop, analyze, and allocate system requirements for free-space optical communication links and ground terminals.
Develop and run performance models, including link budgets, pointing/acquisition/tracking simulations, and mitigation techniques such as adaptive optics.
Integrate optical terminals into satellite architectures and collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams on design, testing, and validation.
Oversee space-hardware development and testing activities.
Lead complex technical teams and programs to deliver hardware on schedule and within scope.
Manage and verify system and component requirements using tools such as DOORS or Jama.
Manage subcontractors, author Statements of Work, and ensure compliance with program obligations.
Support system, module, and sub-assembly testing, troubleshooting, defect resolution, and continuous product and test-process improvement.
Evaluate customer needs, conduct design trades, assess and mitigate program risks, and lead technical input for business pursuits.
Support requirements management, interface management, system design, risk and opportunity management, verification planning, test planning, and event-based activities, including RCCAs, FRBs, and MRBs.