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United Career Network

Lead, Optical Engineer // US Military Space Force

Experience
7+ yrs
Location
Rochester, NY
Job type
Full-Time
Salary
$180,000–$210,000 / year
Posted
today

About the role

L3Harris Technologies is seeking a Lead Optical Engineer in Rochester, New York, to support the design, analysis, development, integration, testing, and verification of advanced optical and electro-optical systems for aerospace and defense applications. The role focuses on stray light analysis and control, optical system modeling, performance analysis, non-sequential evaluation, and space-based EO/IR payloads, and requires a bachelor's degree with seven years of prior related experience, including two years using optical stray light analysis tools such as FRED.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead optical system design, analysis, and development activities for aerospace and defense applications.
  • Identify stray light sources, assess their impact on optical system performance, and develop effective mitigation strategies.
  • Perform optical system modeling, performance analysis, and non-sequential evaluation for mission-critical systems.
  • Support stray light suppression and radiometric accuracy assessments for active and passive imaging payloads.
  • Apply optical system engineering methods to complex imaging and sensing systems across design, test, and verification activities.
  • Support the design, manufacture, integration, test, and sell-off of space-based EO/IR subsystems.
  • Use optical design software, optical metrology equipment, and phase retrieval techniques to evaluate and improve system performance.
  • Contribute technical leadership to the development and verification of EO/IR space-based payloads and vehicle systems.
  • Coordinate optical engineering analysis across system development activities and help resolve challenging performance issues in operational environments.
  • Apply programming languages such as Matlab and Python to support optical analysis and engineering workflows.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree and 7 years of prior related experience.
  • At least 2 years of relevant experience in optical stray light analysis tools such as FRED.
  • Ability to obtain a federal security clearance.
  • Hands-on experience with optical metrology equipment, including interferometers, autocollimators, and laser trackers.
  • Experience with phase retrieval techniques.
  • Experience with the design, manufacture, integration, test, and sell-off of space-based EO/IR subsystems.
  • Experience with optical design software such as CodeV and Zemax OpticStudio.
  • Optical engineering experience with EO/IR space-based payloads and vehicle systems.
  • Experience with programming languages such as Matlab and Python.

Benefits and Perks

  • 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off.
  • Opportunity to contribute to advanced aerospace and defense optical systems.
  • Work supporting mission-critical active and passive imaging payloads.

Skills

  • Optical system design
  • Optical system analysis
  • Optical system development
  • Stray light analysis
  • Stray light mitigation strategies
  • Optical system modeling
  • Performance analysis
  • Non-sequential evaluation
  • Stray light suppression
  • Radiometric accuracy
  • Optical system engineering
  • Complex imaging systems
  • Sensing systems
  • Design
  • Test
  • Verification
  • Federal security clearance
  • Optical metrology equipment
  • Interferometers
  • Autocollimators
  • Laser trackers
  • Phase retrieval techniques
  • Space-based EO/IR subsystems

Education

Required

  • Bachelor's Degree

Selection process

  1. Step 1

    Submitted

    Someone who fits the role and has told you they are interested, with their resume.

  2. Step 2

    Client interviews

  3. Step 3

    Selected

    If they qualify and are selected, your payout is due.