{"id":3256944,"url":"https://alion.io/job/general-atomics-lead-scientist-optical-systems","title":"Lead Scientist, Optical Systems","company":{"id":1782979,"name":"General Atomics","domain":"ga.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/ga-com","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"BrassRing","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Acton, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":74000,"max_usd":205000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":541},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-20T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-26","last_verified_at":"2026-10-27T20:21:09Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":8,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":8},"description":"General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwideGeneral Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) is seeking an experienced Lead Scientist, Optical Systems to support the development, integration, test, and operation of advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) space payloads and imaging systems. The Optical Scientist will provide technical leadership throughout the payload development lifecycle, from concept development and requirements definition through optical analysis, hardware integration, alignment, calibration, environmental testing, verification, production support, and on-orbit operations.\nThis role emphasizes optical systems engineering, metrology, alignment, calibration, image-quality assessment, test development, and engineering data analysis. The successful candidate will work with optical designers, systems engineers, scientists, technicians, and program leadership to develop and mature complex optical instruments.\nDUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:\nLead optical systems engineering activities for EO/IR payloads and imaging instruments.\nDevelop optical architectures, concepts of operation, requirements, trade studies, and technical approaches.\nPerform analyses related to radiometry, image quality, wavefront error, focus, boresight, pointing, jitter, stray light, and system sensitivity.\nLead optical alignment, calibration, metrology, integration, and performance verification activities.\nDevelop test methods, procedures, fixtures, equipment, and optical ground support equipment.\nPlan and support assembly, integration, environmental testing, calibration, and verification of optical payloads.\nProcess and analyze test data using computational models, simulations, and engineering software.\nDevelop measurement uncertainty budgets and evaluate measurement repeatability and system accuracy.\nLead anomaly investigations and root-cause analyses involving optical performance and test results.\nProvide technical direction and guidance to engineers, technicians, and other professional staff.\nReview technical work and represent the organization in discussions with customers, suppliers, government representatives, and internal leadership.\nSupport proposal development and the pursuit of new or expanded business opportunities.\nWe recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.","description_format":"text","description_chars":2786,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Science & Engineering","Nuclear Energy","Nuclear Engineering"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-26T02:43:42Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.896,"p_room":1,"age_days":7,"expected_fill_days":33,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/general-atomics-lead-scientist-optical-systems","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/general-atomics-lead-scientist-optical-systems.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-28T00:22:35Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":355,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-29T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1782979},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1782979"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fgeneral-atomics-lead-scientist-optical-systems"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fgeneral-atomics-lead-scientist-optical-systems"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fgeneral-atomics-lead-scientist-optical-systems"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/general-atomics-lead-scientist-optical-systems\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fgeneral-atomics-lead-scientist-optical-systems"}]}