Lead Optical Systems Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 28, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 21, 2026. eXalt scores A on the Alion truth index.
Join an innovative technology company as a Lead Optical Systems Engineer. You will take ownership of the optical discipline across the company's products, working on the full development lifecycle of optical systems. Your responsibilities will include system architecture and trade-offs, optical design, modelling and simulation, optical error budgets, integration and test, optical ground support equipment, model-to-test correlation, supplier management, and technical leadership. A Master's degree or PhD in Optics, Photonics, Physics, Optical Engineering or a related discipline is required, along with significant experience in the design, analysis, integration, and validation of complex optical systems.
Missions
- Participer à l'analyse au niveau système et aux compromis d'architecture, y compris les budgets de liaison et radiométriques.
- Concevoir des trains optiques et produire des prescriptions optiques complètes adaptées à la fabrication ou à l'approvisionnement.
- Diriger la transition de la conception au matériel, y compris la sélection des composants et des fournisseurs, la définition des procédures d'assemblage et d'alignement.
Profil recherché
* **Education:** Master’s degree, Engineering degree or PhD in Optics, Photonics, Physics, Optical Engineering or a related discipline.* **Professional Background:** Significant experience in the design, analysis, integration and validation of complex optical systems. You have ideally delivered an optical system end to end-from design and modelling through to manufactured hardware, alignment and testing.
* **Technical Expertise:**
* Strong command of at least one professional optical design and analysis software package: **FRED**, **Zemax OpticStudio**, **Code V** or equivalent.
* Solid grounding in geometrical and physical optics, including beam propagation, diffraction, coupling, radiometry and polarisation.
* Experience in non-sequential modelling, stray-light analysis, Monte Carlo tolerancing and the definition of realistic compensators.
* Experience in optical prescription writing, thin-film and coating specification, as well as manufacturing tolerances.
* Programming and scripted-analysis skills, particularly in **Python**; familiarity with Mathematica is a plus.
* Good command of optical metrology techniques, including interferometry, wavefront sensing, autocollimation, beam profiling, power measurement and spectral measurement.
* **System Engineering Mindset:** You are comfortable building and owning error budgets, justifying requirements and making technical trade-offs at the interface of optics, mechanics, thermal engineering, electronics and industrial constraints.
* **Relevant Industry Experience:** Experience in space systems, precision instrumentation, photonics, optical communications, defence electro-optics or similarly demanding environments would be highly valued.
* **Mindset:** You are motivated by technical ownership and able to lead a discipline, challenge technical decisions constructively and make sound engineering judgements. You are equally comfortable developing models and working hands-on in the lab, translating measurement results into engineering decisions.
* **English:** Professional working proficiency in English, with the ability to write technical documentation and communicate effectively with international suppliers and partners.