The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Distinguished Optical Instrument Engineer

Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Applied Physics, Electrical or Computer Engineering required; Master’s or PhD preferred.
  • 15+ years of experience in Hardware Instrument Engineering or related field.
  • Strong understanding of instrument design, development, and application processes.
  • Familiarity with fabrication processes for precision instrument hardware.
  • Proficiency in modeling tools like MATLAB and CAD.

Responsibilities

  • Independently develop hardware solutions for complex, multidisciplinary problems.
  • Assist customers in shaping and developing hardware instrument requirements.
  • Serve as a Subject Matter Expert in hardware instrument device development.
  • Lead large-scale Hardware Instrument projects from conception to delivery.
  • Design experiments to validate viable design concepts.
  • Collaborate with engineers to develop prototype and production hardware.
  • Draft and present formal technical documents and testing results.

Benefits

  • Flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance.
  • Access to health and finance workshops for employee well-being.
  • Participation in employee clubs for various personal interests.
  • Opportunities for off-site social events to foster team cohesion.
  • Discounts to local cultural activities and museums.
Full Job Description
Job Description Summary:
As a Optical Instrument Engineer in the Electro-Mechanical Instruments Group, you will play a leadership role in the development of Electro-Mechanical inertial instruments for cutting-edge guidance applications.

You will work closely with a team of engineers and physicists to build next-generation gyroscope, accelerometer and guidance-aiding sensor prototypes, characterize their performance, develop production roll-out and ultimately deliver production hardened sensors meeting some of the world's most stringent requirements.

You will also be a key leader in the development of our junior engineering staff as a mentor and technical leader in a fast-paced, technically challenging environment.

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
• Independently formulate hardware instrument solutions to complex, multidisciplinary problems with a deep understanding of a customer's strategic priorities.
• Capable of helping customers shape their needs and develop hardware instrument requirements for programs that solve their most challenging technical problems.
• Subject Matter Expert in hardware instrument device development with broad knowledge across related technical disciplines.
• Lead large, technically diverse Hardware Instrument projects
• Designs experiments and experimental hardware to prove which design concepts are viable and optimal.
• Collaborates with other engineers to design and develop prototype and production hardware to meet the application needs.
• Collaborates with other groups to integrate precision instruments into larger systems, delivering on performance metrics.
• Drafts and presents formal technical documents, reports, and testing results.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of the design, development, and application of a wide variety of instruments.
• Understanding of the processes used in the fabrication of precision instrument hardware.
• Thorough understanding of applied math and physics.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with general modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, computer-aided design (CAD) software, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, and/or other design & analysis tools relevant to your discipline.

Education
Requires a bachelors degree in Mechanical, Applied Physics, Electrical or Computer Engineering required; Masters or PhD degree preferred.

Experience
Requires 15+ years of experience in Hardware Instrument Engineering or related.

Additional Job Description:

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Connect With Draper for Future Opportunities! If you don't find the right posting in our Career Opportunities, you may submit your resume for future consideration.

Job Location - City:
Cambridge

Job Location - State:
Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:


The US base salary range for this full-time position is
$62,500.00 - $250,000.00
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

About The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Draper Laboratory is an American non-profit research and development organization, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts; its official name is The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. The laboratory specializes in the design, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security, space exploration, health care and energy. The laboratory was founded in 1932 by Charles Stark Draper at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop aeronautical instrumentation, and came to be called the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory. During this period the laboratory is best known for developing the Apollo Guidance Computer, the first silicon integrated circuit based computer. It was renamed for its founder in 1970, and separated from MIT in 1973 to become an independent, non-profit organization. The expertise of the laboratory staff includes the areas of guidance, navigation, and control technologies and systems; fault-tolerant computing; advanced algorithms and software systems; modeling and simulation; and microelectromechanical systems and multichip module technology.
Learn more about The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

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