Optical engineering fellow

Position Title: Optical Engineering Fellow

Date Reviewed: 09/10/2024

Position Reports To: Optical Engineering Manager

FLSA Designation: Exempt

Supervises Others: No

EEO Job Category: Professional

Home Office Location: Tucson, AZ

Pay Range: DOE

Hybrid/Remote Option: Hybrid

FTE: 1.0

Position Summary

Since its inception in 2004, Geost has been committed to solving mission-critical space domain and ISR challenges for DOD, IC, and commercial customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. As we grow our operations in Tucson, AZ and Chantilly, VA, we remain dedicated to the collaborative and innovative culture that is the foundation of our business. Geost is an operating unit of LightRidge Solutions.

Geost seeks an Optical Engineering Fellow to be responsible for designing new and advanced optical sensors in support of new product development. This position will act as an optical technical lead for the business, while at the same time contributing to the analysis, modeling, design, prototyping and testing of optical components and systems. This position will participate in systems trade studies, vendor assessments, and support design and development of custom optical systems, including lens designs for illumination and imaging systems, laser beam propagation optics and optical filters, and optical test fixtures for new and existing products. The role will provide guidance to junior engineers, support optical design and modeling efforts as needed, with a focus on hands-on application. This position will work closely with the Chief Engineer and be responsible for requirement flow-down, electro-optical design, interface with critical component suppliers, and plan and execution of integration and test. This position will interact with various internal and external groups during system development including application scientists as well as mechanical, electrical and software engineers to create next generation products for both research and development applications. Additionally, this role will solve complex problems requiring deep understanding of material science and laser technology and contribute to IP, publications, and business development.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide concept through detailed design of complex optical systems.
• Complete optical design and tolerance analysis using Zemax and Matlab.
• Lead trade studies on various sensing systems such as aperture size, wavebands, field of view, F-number, tolerances, stray light, material selection, and packaging.
• Execute programming using Matlab, Labview, Python, or C++.
• Drive the development, implementation, verification, and maintenance of optical designs in close collaboration with other disciplines to provide a mature optimized product.
• Support electro-optical modeling and simulation activities.
• Perform analysis of optical system performance.
• Communicate effectively with team members across disciplines, project management, and customers.
• Contribute to program and customer meetings and reviews.
• Drive system requirements and interface definitions while being accountable for cost and risk.
• Attend technical interchange meetings with the team members and other project personnel and represent the organization in matters pertaining to the development of the project.
• Provide status on assigned integrated tasks.
• Provide document review and resolve technical systems engineering and integration issues.
• Support proposal efforts as required.
• Participate in major technical review boards.
• Manage time and resources to meet assigned deadlines.
• Support on-site work, as needed.
• Support travel or off-site work, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics.
• An active U.S. Government Security Clearance or the ability to obtain a Clearance. Current SSBI is preferred.
• 15 years of experience working in Optical Design and development.
• 10 or more years of experience using optical design and analysis codes (i.e., Zemax, Code-V, and FRED).
• Hands-on expertise with active optical systems and IR systems.
• Experience with optical-quality assessment, radiometric calibration of optical systems, space-based optical systems, algorithms and performance assessment, pointing, radiometric calibration, remote-sensing, and/or atmospheric correction.
• Experience using Matlab.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Team player incorporating a team-based success philosophy.
• Experience performing and working in a dynamic and high-visibility role.
• Self-motivated and capable of performing tasks with minimal oversight.
• Ability to contribute to the completion of program and project milestones.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills and sound problem-solving skills.

Physical Requirements

A qualified candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily. If requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, absent undue hardship.

• Must be able to constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery for a majority of the shift.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for a majority of the shift.
• Must be able to occasionally move materials and/or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to complete tasks in a noisy environment.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, pregnancy, and military)
• Potential bonus

Geost is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Geost is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)