Senior Lens Design Engineer
Acton, Massachusetts
Overview
General Atomics pioneers technologies with the potential to change the world. Behind a talented global team of engineers, GA delivers safe, sustainable, and economical solutions to meet growing global demands. Our Engineers have an opportunity to work on first of a kind product lines within an incredible, dynamic environment.
Engineering positions typically require a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience. Candidates from mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering backgrounds must know the fundamentals of engineering system developments, requirements, testing, and integration before getting to the final stages of customer interface and project management.
Schedule: Full-Time Salary
Job Level: Senior (8+ years)
Travel: 0 - 25
Success Profile
What makes a successful Senior Lens Design Engineer at General Atomics? Check out the top traits we’re looking for and see if you have the right mix.
- Analytical
- Collaborative
- Inventive
- Problem Solver
- Team Player
- Creative
Job Summary General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.
The GA-EMS Optical Sensor System group in Acton, MA has an opening for a Senior Optical Lens Design Engineer to join a high performance multidisciplinary Advanced Technology group proposing, designing, and fielding sophisticated electro-optical sensors for airborne and space-based (both civil and defense) applications. This Engineer will be responsible for selecting the best design forms (refractive or reflective) given program requirements, designing, analyzing, and optimizing the design form in concert with the requirements of the other team members. The Acton team specializes in designing very high performance and innovative optical sensor systems, designed for both manufacturability and affordability; and this Lens Design Engineer will perform an essential role and be a key member of the team. The Lens Design Engineer will perform detailed tolerancing of the design in concert with Opto-mechanical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Engineers, and the fabrication shops and will support the assembly, alignment, and test of the optical assemblies, including during on-orbit checkout. The sensors will cover the UV, Visible, and Infrared spectral ranges, and include both multispectral and hyperspectral passive sensors, as well as active sensor systems.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:
- Design and analysis of the optical designs for a range of airborne and space-based electro-optical sensor applications as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team through a concurrent engineering process
- Design and optimization of both refractive and reflective optical designs
- Tolerancing of optical designs in concert with other engineering disciplines
- Preparation of Optical Design packages suitable for quotation by vendors, as well as interactions with prospective and current vendors
- Detailed Interactions with vendors and fabrication shops.
- Preparation and presentation of Technical Presentation both internally and to Customers
- Support the build, alignment, optimization and performance verification of optical systems
Job Qualifications:
- Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; nine or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, seven or more years of experience with a masters degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
- Highly skilled in optical design using CodeV or ZEMAX
- Solid understanding of radiometry, diffraction, and polarization
- Solid understanding of designing, tolerancing, fabrication and testing of optical systems
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Experience working collaboratively with thermal and structural engineers
- Experience in assembly and alignment of reflective and refractive optical systems is highly desirable
- Experience using Structural-Thermal-Optical-Thermal (STOP) software is desirable
- Experience designing with freeform surfaces is desirable
- Stray light analysis experience (FRED, TracePro etc) is desirable
- Experience with MATLAB is desirable.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance
Salary:$105,890 - $189,545
Benefits
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Healthcare
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Pension, 401(k)/Retirement Plans
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Competitive Pay
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Multiple product lines means a variety of work
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Paid Time Off

“The company is growing, has a very good reputation and had open positions in my area of expertise (aircraft design/design methodology development).”– Peter, Senior Staff Engineer

“We don't ascribe to quotas; we do ascribe to securing the BEST talent to enrich our culture toward healthy diversification and active/viable community service. We are STEM advocates.”– Debra, CSSBB: Staff Engineer

“Every day is different, with different problems to solve and many programs to support. I am a problem solver and have always been motivated by the tough questions.”– Scott, Laser Scientist

“I work in the Components Engineering and Obsolescence Management Dept. Our efforts are saving General Atomics several millions of dollars by proactively leading and informing the company of all these decisions which significantly impact production, sustainment and new designs.”– John, Staff Engineer
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