OverviewJob Title: ID&C Imaging System Engineer
Location: Arnold Air Force, TN
Function/Branch: Engineering/Instrumentation, Data & Controls
Directorate: Mission Information Services
Position Type: Regular, Full Time
Pay Type: Exempt
Sponsorship: Position Not Sponsored
Grade: L08 (OA0816) – L09 (OA0916)
Salary Range: L08: $109,000 - $149,000 / year
L09: $ 128,500 - $176,000 / year
Overview
Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for an ID&C Imaging System Engineer supporting the Test and Operations Sustainment (TOS) II contract at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. In this role, you will lead and support the design, installation, integration, calibration, and maintenance of advanced, high-speed optical and infrared imaging systems. These diagnostic assets are critical for capturing and analyzing transient test events, including hypersonic flows, arc heater thermal testing, pressure sensitive paint, and other test surveillance videos.
You will also work closely with other Test Operations Engineers, Design and Systems Engineers, and Project Managers to deliver high-fidelity diagnostic data from unique national test assets.
Open to internal and external candidates. The selected candidate for this requisition may be required to occasionally work outside normal business hours.
Job Summary
The successful candidate will apply programming, design, configuration management, and testing skills to develop complex systems and applications to perform the above functions, while assisting in system/application deployment, installation, maintenance, and support.
Job Duties:
An Imaging System Engineer at AEDC is critical to the execution of the test mission. Specifically, duties for this mid-career position include:
- Sustain and Optimize Imaging Systems: Manage, maintain, calibrate, and upgrade ultra-high-speed digital imaging cameras, optical diagnostics, and high-speed infrared (IR) cameras used in harsh and aerothermal test environments.
- Direct Diagnostic Setup and Execution: Lead the physical setup, precise optical alignment, laser safety coordination, and camera synchronization (at rates up to and exceeding 10,000 frames per second) to record transient arc heater arc-root movements, plasma jets, flow interactions, etc.
- Design Specialized Optical Paths: Develop and integrate advanced optical configurations including Schlieren systems, pressure sensitive paint, multispectral setups, and test surveillance video.
- Manage Large Datasets: Coordinate the ingestion, analysis, reduction, and archiving of high-bandwidth scientific video datasets. Use specialized image processing software to extract quantitative engineering metrics from qualitative visual recordings.
- Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work closely with the ID&C Branch, test operations teams, facility engineers, and government representatives to gather requirements, estimate task costs, and build execution schedules for diagnostic projects.
- Sustain Safety: Enforce rigorous safety protocols, particularly relating to Class 3/4 laser systems, high-voltage equipment, and industrial test environments.
- Author Documentation: Draft detailed technical reports, standard operating procedures, electrical schematics, and equipment checklists to institutionalize system knowledge and satisfy contractual deliverables.
- Support Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to upgrade diagnostic capabilities, automate image analysis pipelines, and reduce test cycle setup times.
- It is a condition of employment to wear company-issued Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Optical Engineering, Physics, or another closely related engineering or scientific discipline from an accredited college or university.
- L08: A minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in design, development, and operation of high-speed optical diagnostic systems in an industrial, academic research, or aerospace test environment.
- L09: A minimum of 8 years of progressive work experience with demonstrated technical leadership in high-speed optical engineering, instrumentation design, and cross-functional team project management.
- Current US Citizenship required.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance and access to the local AEDC network.
Preferred Qualifications
- High-Speed Videography Expertise: In-depth, hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting specialized high-speed scientific cameras (e.g., Phantom, Photron) and high-power illumination systems (laser, LED, xenon strobe).
- Optical Diagnostic Techniques: Strong technical knowledge of experimental aerothermodynamics flow visualization (Schlieren systems), pressure sensitive paint, and multispectral setups.
- Infrared Thermography: Experience using and calibrating radiometric infrared thermal cameras to extract high-temperature surfaces and plasma characteristics.
- Programming & Image Processing: Proficiency using MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, or C/C++ to write automated scripts for image filtering, edge detection, and statistical tracking.
- Data Acquisition Integration: Experience integrating imaging triggers and camera synchronization signals with larger facility control systems and data acquisition systems.
- Environmental Resilience: Familiarity with protecting sensitive optical equipment from harsh vibrations, thermal loads, magnetic fields, and dust using environmental enclosures or purge systems.
- Active DoD Security Clearance
What We Offer
- Competitive salaries
- Continuing education assistance
- Multiple healthcare benefits packages
- 401K with employer matching
- Paid time off (PTO) along with a federally recognized holiday schedule
