Job DescriptionWe are seeking a Principal Optical Engineering Technologist to serve as the senior technical lead connecting optical engineering requirements to flight hardware execution. The role requires deep hands-on expertise, independent judgment, and process ownership across alignment, bonding, integration, and characterization of space-based and airborne optical systems for NASA and DoW programs.
This role is defined by extensive hands-on experience, practiced mechanical and optical knowledge with mounting, bonding, and handling precision optics as well as independent technical judgment and process ownership. The Principal Technologist creates and validates procedures, evaluates approaches, identifies failure modes, and translates engineering requirements into repeatable lab processes.
What You'll Do:
- Own technical process areas: from requirements interpretation and procedure writing through execution, verification, and lessons-learned capture.
- Apply engineering-level analysis to alignment, bonding, and characterization data - identifying root causes, recommending design or process changes, and communicating findings to engineers and program leadership.
- Primary technical resource for novel hardware challenges requiring judgment and experience beyond existing procedures.
- Develop team capability through mentorship, process documentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Technical Leadership & Process Ownership:
- Serve as the senior technical lead for optical alignment, bonding, and integration processes across multiple concurrent flight programs.
- Develop and validate build instructions, alignment procedures, bonding processes, and inspection plans for novel optical systems.
- Evaluate and select alignment strategies, adhesive systems, and integration approaches based on system requirements, thermal environments, and schedule constraints.
- Lead root cause analysis for performance anomalies, bonding non-conformances, and integration discrepancies; disposition hardware and drive corrective actions.
- Identify process improvements and capability gaps; implement solutions that improve yield, schedule, and technical performance.
- Interface directly with engineers to translate design drawings and performance specifications into executable lab processes.
- Optical Hardware Alignment, Bonding & Characterization:
- Lead alignment of complex multi-element refractive and reflective optical systems including telescopes, spectrometers, collimators, and multi-channel airborne sensors.
- Apply laser alignment systems including Opto-Alignment Technology equipment and interferometric wavefront sensing to achieve and verify performance.
- Perform and interpret interferometry; analyze Zernike decomposition to guide iterative alignment convergence.
- Use autocollimators, theodolites, and laser trackers to establish optical axis relationships, bore-sight, and co-alignment between subsystems and spacecraft interfaces.
- Apply working knowledge of alignment budgets and error analysis inputs in coordination with optical engineers to validate predicted vs. as-built performance.
- Own the bonding process for flight optics - from adhesive selection and process qualification through execution, cure monitoring, and post-bond verification.
- Design and execute flexure bonding and athermal bonding configurations for optical components operating across wide thermal environments.
- Apply controlled dispensing techniques (syringe, micro-applicator, automated systems) for epoxy injection, UV cure, and optical cementing of doublets and triplets.
- Perform and oversee adhesion, pull, and shear testing of bonded assemblies; evaluate results against acceptance criteria and disposition non-conformances.
- Support integration of bonded subassemblies into instrument optical benches, telescope structures, and spacecraft payloads.
- Contribute to adhesive material qualification activities and maintain awareness of approved material lists for space-qualified programs.
- Lead test planning and execution for optical component and assembly characterization across full instrument development cycles.
- Measure and analyze transmitted and reflected wavefront error using phase-shifting interferometry; produce data packages with Zernike analysis and performance margin assessments.
- Characterize spectral transmission, reflectance, and coating performance using UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometers; evaluate against coating specifications and flag non-conformances.
- Measure scattered light levels and BRDF using scatterometers; supply data to stray light analysts and interpret results against system-level requirements.
- Perform dimensional verification using metrology-grade microscopes, CMMs, and profilometers; interpret GD&T callouts and compare as-built to drawing requirements.
- Conduct optical surface quality inspections (Scratch-Dig) and cleanliness verification; select and execute appropriate precision cleaning techniques based on optic type and coating (e.g., drag wipe, particle pick, CO2 Snow Gun).
- Documentation & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Oversee the creation of as-built data packages, test reports, and anomaly dispositions that meet flight program documentation standards.
- Write and maintain work instructions and inspection plans; ensure documentation reflects current best practices and lessons learned.
- Collaborate with optical, mechanical, systems, and program engineers across simultaneous programs; represent the technologist perspective in design reviews and technical exchanges.
- Mentor junior and mid-level optical technicians; build team capability in alignment, bonding, and characterization.
- Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
- Perform other duties as necessary.
On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working
on-site five days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.
Working Conditions: - Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment. Work is performed primarily in ISO-classified cleanrooms and optical laboratories; production floor and office environments as needed.
- May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required. Use of cleanroom garments, ESD-safe equipment, and protective gear required in controlled environments.
- May access other facilities in various weather conditions.
Required Skills and Education- BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 6 or more years of related experience.
- Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
- Demonstrated technical leadership: experience owning a process area, writing procedures, and driving decisions on flight hardware programs without requiring engineering oversight for execution.
- Hands-on experience with precision optical alignment using laser alignment systems (Opto-Alignment Technology or equivalent), interferometers, autocollimators, and theodolites.
- Experience bonding flight optics using space-qualified adhesive processes including flexure bonding, UV cure, epoxy injection, and optical cementing.
- Hands-on experience integrating optical components and subassemblies into space-based or airborne sensor payloads in a cleanroom environment.
- Experience developing and writing build instructions, alignment procedures, and test plans for novel optical systems.
- Ability to interpret interferometric wavefront data including Zernike decomposition and PV/RMS metrics to guide alignment convergence and assess performance margins.
- Proficiency operating and interpreting results from interferometers, spectrophotometers, scatterometers, profilometers, and measuring microscopes.
- Ability to read, interpret, and work from optical component drawings, assembly drawings, and specifications including GD&T callouts.
- Working knowledge of cleanroom operations, ESD controls, and flight hardware handling protocols.
- Analytical and communication skills sufficient to present technical findings, anomaly dispositions, and process recommendations to engineers and program leadership.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for data packages, technical reports, and presentations.
- Ability to operate technical analysis software for wavefront, spectral, and dimensional data reduction and reporting.
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As this position requires operating a company vehicle, an offer and subsequent employment are contingent upon possessing and maintaining a valid US driver's license and a satisfactory motor vehicle record review.
Preferred Skills and Education- BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field plus 8 or more years of related experience.
- Experience developing or contributing to optical alignment budgets and error analyses in coordination with optical engineers.
- Experience with laser tracker systems (e.g., Leica, FARO) for large-scale optical bench and telescope integration.
- Background supporting environmental test campaigns (thermal vacuum, vibration, acoustic) for bonded optical assemblies.
- Experience leading or contributing to optical process qualification efforts, including first-article inspections and acceptance test planning.
- Demonstrated mentorship or informal technical leadership of junior technicians or technologists.
- Familiarity with adhesive qualification processes and approved materials lists for space-flight programs.
- Familiarity with stray light analysis and how scatterometry and BRDF data feed into system-level performance assessments.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
Multiple positions may be available on this opening.
