Senior Optical Engineer

Leidos•San Diego, CA

1d•$131,300 - $237,350•Onsite

About The Position

The Emerging Space Systems division at Leidos currently has an opening for a Senior Optical Engineer to work in our San Diego, CA office. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to develop sensors that support critical Department of Defense (DoD) missions, such as Missile Warning/Tracking, Space Domain Awareness (SDA), and Space Control. In this context, we develop next-generation opto-mechanical systems and laser communication technologies designed to survive and thrive in challenging orbital environments.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree with 12+ years of prior relevant experience or Master of Science with 10+ years of prior relevant experience. May possess a Doctorate in a relevant technical domain.
Must have an active SECRET clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
Proven expertise in the setup and operation of precision optical and electronic instrumentation, including: Optical Metrology: Hands-on use of interferometers (e.g., Zygo, 4D), wavefront sensors, and autocollimators.
Signal Analysis: Proficiency with high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and bit error rate testers (BERT).
Power & Control: Experience with precision source measure units (SMU), multi-channel data acquisition (DAQ) systems, and low-noise current/voltage sources.
Laser Safety & Compliance: Must be expert in laser safety and compliance protocols (ANSI Z136.1), including defining Nominal Hazard Zones (NHZ) and implementing controls for Class 3b and 4 lasers.
Cleanroom Experience: Proven experience working in an ISO-rated cleanroom environment (e.g., ISO 5, 6, or 7).
Electronics & Automation: Proficiency in operating laboratory electronics and the ability to program in a scripting language (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW) to automate test sequences.
Radiometry: Must be able to perform radiometry, including the calculation and measurement of optical power budgets and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR).
Optical Alignment Proficiency: Must be proficient in the alignment of complex optical systems, including precision alignment of lens systems, mirrors, and fiber-to-free-space coupling.
Detector Expertise: Hands-on experience working with highly sensitive detectors (APD, GmAPD, and/or LmAPD).

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with telescope design and architectures (e.g., Three-Mirror Anastigmat, Cassegrain, or Off-axis Parabolas).
Experience supporting technical proposals, including drafting Technical Volumes and developing Basis of Estimates (BOEs).
Advanced proficiency in Python for hardware control and instrument interfacing (SCPI, VISA).
Experience with space-qualified optical hardware or SDA OCT specification compliance.
Familiarity with opto-mechanical packaging for high-vibration or thermal-stress environments.

Responsibilities

Lead the test setup design, alignment, and testing of complex optical systems in a laboratory environment, focusing on free-space and fiber-coupled architectures.
Directly manage and operate Class 3b and 4 laser systems, spanning both visible and Infrared (IR) wavelengths, ensuring all experiments comply with rigorous laser safety standards.
Perform detailed radiometric analysis and measurements to characterize optical power, irradiance, and radiance across various system apertures.
Set up, calibrate, and operate laboratory instrumentation and electronics to drive and monitor optical components, including laser controllers, TECs, and detector bias circuits.
Develop and maintain test automation scripts to control laboratory hardware and streamline data collection processes.
Integrate and characterize highly sensitive detector technologies, including Avalanche Photodiodes (APD), Geiger-mode APDs (GmAPD), and Single Photon Counting Detectors (SPCDs) as well as IR and visible focal planes.
Interface directly with customers to provide technical updates, present design reviews, and translate mission requirements into hardware specifications.
Author comprehensive technical reports, test plans, and data analysis summaries for internal stakeholders and external customers.
Maintain hardware integrity by working within controlled environments, ensuring all optical assembly and testing meet strict cleanliness standards.