Senior Optical Engineering Specialist
About The Position
The Senior Specialist, Optical Engineering supports the synthesis, definition, analysis, design, development, integration, and testing of advanced electro-optical systems for airborne and ground surveillance applications. The role focuses on optical sensor system analysis and design, including developing new optical sensor payloads for customer contracts and internal research and development programs. The position works with multidisciplinary mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering teams to develop optical solutions from initial concepts through detailed design, fabrication drawings, integration, testing, and production release. It provides optical engineering expertise to manufacturing operations, supports existing product designs, and contributes to product development proposals, engineering change orders, and lifecycle documentation. This is a fully onsite position in Rochester, New York.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline and at least 6 years of relevant professional experience; or a graduate degree in a related engineering or technical discipline and at least 4 years of relevant experience; or at least 10 years of relevant professional experience in lieu of a degree.
- Optical engineering and optical system design experience.
- Experience with optical sensor system analysis and development.
- Experience supporting engineering design, integration, and testing.
- Understanding of optical engineering tools and procedures.
- Ability to provide engineering support to manufacturing and production.
- Experience preparing technical specifications, analyses, and engineering documentation.
- Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Must be able to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of mathematical analysis and engineering software, including MATLAB, Mathematica, or Mathcad.
- Understanding of infrared detector technologies and performance parameters, including well fill, Non-Uniformity Correction (NUC), and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).
- Understanding of radiometric concepts and measurement parameters, including radiant intensity, Noise Equivalent Irradiance (NEI), and related optical and infrared performance measurements.
- Experience using MODTRAN to model relevant operating environments and understanding of environmental effects on optical and infrared system performance.
- Experience with systems testing of electro-optical and infrared products, optical integration and troubleshooting, and system-level performance verification.
- Ability to work with algorithm developers and understand interactions between optical hardware and algorithms; experience supporting integrated EO/IR hardware and software solutions.
- Knowledge of optical part fabrication processes and optical component manufacturing and production requirements; experience supporting design-to-manufacturing transitions.
- Experience engineering aerospace products; understanding of stabilization, guidance, and control; strong mechanical and geospatial comprehension; and experience with advanced airborne or ground-based surveillance systems.
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, system modeling and simulation, and analysis of system performance and engineering trade-offs.
- Strong background in electro-optical and infrared systems, optical sensor payload design, and engineering development; aerospace and defense program experience is particularly relevant.
Responsibilities
- Support the synthesis, definition, analysis, design, development, integration, and testing of advanced electro-optical systems.
- Analyze and design optical sensor systems and develop new optical sensor payloads for customer contracts and internal research and development programs.
- Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering teams to advance optical solutions from product concepts through detailed design, fabrication drawings, integration, testing, and production release.
- Provide optical engineering expertise to manufacturing operations and support existing product designs.
- Contribute to product development proposals, engineering change orders, and lifecycle documentation.
- Support engineering design, integration, testing, optical troubleshooting, and system-level performance verification.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
