Job Title: Lead, Systems Engineering – Optical Engineering

Job Code: 14826

Job Location: Tulsa, OK or Remote

Job Schedule: 9/80 Work Schedule – (Every other Friday is a non-workday)

Job Description:   

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Optical Engineer to join our L3Harris Systems Engineering team. As a Systems Optical Engineer, you will facilitate execution of the optical engineering tasks and enable collaboration with the systems analysts and software team members to discuss the contributions of the optical system to the overall performance of the system. You will contribute to the field data review product and process, issue investigation and resolution, communication with both internal and external stakeholders, and evaluate the competitive landscape to propose and secure funding. Your primary objectives will be to assist with technical investigations or modeling to enable pristine imagery, anticipate future customer requirements, and keep abreast of technological advancements in EO/IR system. This role requires a strong technical background, analytical thinking, proactive mindset and exceptional problem-solving abilities.

Job Description:

• Brief direct-to-customer proposal bids, design review phases, and readiness reviews, updating relevant technical performance metrics using engineering risk-mitigation processes.
• Anticipate customer requirements for follow-on work; propose and secure funding to investigate effects via internal or external resources.
• Continually evaluate competitive landscape for ISR sensors using quantitative and qualitative information.
• Scope, code, and maintain source-controlled analysis and modeling code in MATLAB (or other suitable platform) in support of sensor design.
• Innovate new practical concepts for multi-aperture optical architecture, balancing high-NIIRS ISR tasks with situational awareness.
• Analyze and optimize field-of-regard NIIRS or DRI performance, deriving system requirements in the absence of top-down guidance. Analyze and discern resolution-limited vs. SNR-limited regimes.
• Design, tolerance, and specify multispectral zoom optical systems.
• Analyze, measure, and specify focal planes and complete camera assemblies for visible, shortwave, and infrared imaging detectors. Characterize using photon transfer method.
• Budget and track spectral performance, color point, and total system throughput for target SNR and integration times, including windows and atmosphere.
• Define filter performance and work with suppliers to guide development of new coatings and materials if required.
• Track sensitive component tolerances using as-built data.  Accumulate, track, and analyze vendor data for all optical components over multiple production systems to effect cost savings.
• Use interferometric data to simulate labor-intensive measurements to reduce touch time and risk.
• Model and optimize high-fluence laser designator and rangefinder performance including atmosphere and aircraft window effects.
• Write and execute system imaging performance test under using appropriate imaging measurements. Reduce system measurements to MTF or NIIRS or DRI performance metrics.
• Diagnose / analyze both lens and full-system stray light / Narcissus artifacts. Recommend / implement retrofit solutions. Analyze radiometry for SNR impact.
• Have a strong desire to learn, possess good interpersonal skills and decision making/critical thinking skills.
• Be dynamic and adaptable to change.
• Set the highest ethical standards for self and others.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to productively use desktop software applications such as MS Office Tools (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) and related software tools, is required.
• Works effectively and efficiently in a virtual environment with tools such as MS Teams, Atlassian Jira, etc.
• Collaborate with the wider systems engineering and software engineering teams in the development and implementation of system modifications, upgrades, and new features, informed by data-driven insights and operational feedback.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior analysts and engineers, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and professional growth within the team.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and analytical techniques, incorporating best practices into the EOIR sensor system to maintain a competitive edge.
• Creates professional, data-driven presentations for briefing technical decisions or recommendations both to internal stakeholders and external vendors/customers.
• Proactive mindset, with the ability to anticipate potential mission system challenges and develop effective mitigation strategies.
• Opto-mechanical design work to support configuration of modular optical systems with unique packaging and size constraints.
• Calibration, alignment, and characterization of complex optical systems using typical laboratory optical equipment such as collimator systems, interferometers, MTF benches, and monochromators.

Job Qualification Requirements:  

Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret security clearance which requires U.S. Citizenship.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a multi-disciplined integrated product team (IPT).
• Applicant must have a willingness to relocate to the Tulsa, OK area.
• Applicant must have or be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense security clearance.
• The essential physical requirements of the position will be reviewed with the applicant during the interview.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• An existing Department of Defense security clearance of any level.
• Degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or similar educational background preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in the Aerospace/Defense sector, specially for ISR applications.
• Hands-on experience with photonic instruments and test equipment
• Experience in test suite automation and data acquisition techniques to include use of software packages such as MATLAB, LabVIEW, C++, MathCAD, Mathematica, and Python
• Experience developing instrument calibration techniques and procedures
• Familiarity with ISO 17025, IEC 61300 and related specifications
• Photonic Modeling: Ability to model photonic systems using one or more of the following software packages: MATLAB, OptSim, BeamProp, Zemax, HFSS, Code V, FRED
• Experience with product development for government contracts.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role is $102,000 - $189,000. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.