Senior Scientist Photonic and Laser Systems
About The Position
Raytheon Engineering’s Photonic Systems Group seeks a senior technical leader with expertise in photonics, laser systems, free-space optical communications, and RF photonics. The role advances high-power laser-based countermeasure systems, optical communication terminals, adaptive optics, and RF-over-fiber photonic solutions for missile defense, airborne systems, and next-generation countermeasure payloads. The successful candidate shapes technology strategy, leads complex R&D programs, architects multi-domain optical/RF systems, mentors technical leaders, and influences photonic systems roadmaps, IRAD investments, program pursuits, and prototype demonstrations across RMD and other Directorates. The position serves as the senior technical authority for laser, photonic, and RF photonic systems across programs and divisions. It includes end-to-end system engineering, embedded control development, laboratory prototyping and testing, technical leadership for IRAD and capture activities, government stakeholder engagement, prototype-to-production transition, and leadership and mentoring of multidisciplinary engineering teams. The role is hybrid and based in Dulles, Virginia. U.S. citizenship and an active, existing Top Secret clearance are required on day one.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship and an active DoD Top Secret security clearance; an active and existing clearance is required on day one.
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or another directly related technical discipline.
- 15 or more years of professional experience designing laser, optical, and electro-optical systems for defense or high-reliability applications.
- Experience integrating RF photonics with laser and optical systems, including RF signal modulation, RF-over-fiber architectures, and photonic control systems.
- Experience developing and integrating prototype optical systems, including optical alignment, system testing, verification, and embedded control development.
- Experience modeling and simulating optical and photonic systems using analytical or computational methods, including fiber lasers, atmospheric propagation, Raman and erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), and transient control models.
- Experience developing embedded firmware for high-speed optical and RF control systems, including closed-loop control applications.
Nice To Haves
- Experience developing reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs), EDFA transient suppression algorithms, wavelength-selective switch (WSS) systems, or RF photonic switching architectures.
- Experience with EO/IR countermeasure systems, high-power laser effects, or atmospheric physics applied to DoD or Intelligence Community mission requirements.
- Experience designing and implementing automated test systems, optical manufacturing processes, or yield improvement strategies.
- Experience in quantum optics, advanced photonics, nonlinear fiber optics, or free-space laser communication systems.
- Experience collaborating with defense prime contractors, component vendors, and manufacturing partners to advance technologies from prototype development to system integration or production.
- Experience supporting technical capture activities, preparing technical proposals, and conducting technical discussions with customers.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, with responsibility for technical design decisions, system integration, and project execution.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the senior technical authority for laser, photonic, and RF photonic systems across multiple programs and divisions.
- Architect integrated optical/RF systems incorporating high-power fiber lasers, doped fiber amplifiers, EDFA/ROADM subsystems, free-space optical terminals, and RF-over-fiber photonic links.
- Lead end-to-end system engineering, including optical and RF link budgets, atmospheric propagation modeling, laser/optical power chain analysis, high-speed modulation and RF photonics signal transport, and optical modem waveform development and optimization.
- Direct development of embedded control algorithms for real-time optical and RF photonic subsystems.
- Drive laboratory prototyping, alignment, verification, optical assembly integration, and optical communications testing.
- Provide technical leadership for IRAD strategy, technology maturation, competitive discrimination, and capture activities.
- Engage government stakeholders in technical reviews, demonstrations, and concept development aligned with Photonic Systems mission needs.
- Interface with manufacturing engineering, supply chain partners, and vendors to transition prototypes to production-ready designs.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams spanning optical design, RF engineering, embedded firmware, and system architecture.
- Mentor junior engineers and grow organizational photonics and RF photonics capability.
Benefits
- Relocation eligible
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- 401(k) match
- Flexible spending accounts
- Flexible work schedules
- Employee assistance program
- Employee Scholar Program
- Parental leave
- Paid time off
- Holidays
- Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be available, subject to eligibility and applicable factors.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
