The Senior Optical Engineer (OE) serves as the company's technical authority for optical systems engineering and works with a cross-functional team to ensure Wilcox is delivering a best-in-class product. At Wilcox, OEs support a product throughout its lifecycle, from a low TRL/MRL to a high TRL/MRL. OEs work closely with other engineers, program management, operations, and quality to ensure Wilcox stays on the leading edge of optical technology and innovation while ensuring the team is delivering a product that our customer can trust their life with.
Roles and Responsibilities- Serves as technical expert in optical systems engineering.
- Supports all optical engineering needs on existing products and also development efforts.
- Manages a small team of optical technicians; provides direction to team that is in line with business objectives.
- Responsible for annual reviews of direct reports, as well as goal setting with direct reports for their career growth.
- Assist with failure analysis and develop solutions for optical / laser issues.
- Responsible for setting up test equipment in production and laboratory environments, as well as for field testing.
- Responsible for optical system architecture.
- Supports modernization efforts of electro-optics systems.
- Review new projects requiring optics and support technical content of bid & proposal efforts.
- Involved with all aspects of development of electro-optics (technical feasibility, trade studies, requirements creation & review, preliminary design & analysis, critical design & analysis, testing, etc.).
- Design and simulate optical components and sub-systems.
- Generate content and present to senior level management, program managers, and the customer.
- Contribute innovative ideas for product development and optical process improvement efforts.
- Communicate the status of assigned work including current progress, estimated time to completion, risks, and identify tools necessary to accomplish assigned work.
- Efficiently manage tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Perform other duties as necessary when directed to do so to support business needs.
Qualifications and RequirementsRequired:- Bachelor's degree in optical engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- 10 years of optical engineering experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proficient in Zemax or Code V.
- Ability to conduct a stray light analysis.
- Experience modeling and simulating the performance of optical systems, including lasers.
- Experience setting up optical alignment stations to support production.
- Experience with field testing optics.
- Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office suite.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skill.
- Strong leadership and motivational skills to drive self and team to meet goals and objectives of programs.
- Excellent organizational skills and the ability to interact with customers, suppliers, and other external personnel.
- Must be able to maintain composure in dealing with executives, and staff, occasionally under conditions of urgency and in pressure situations.
- Regular on-site attendance is a necessary function of this position.
- Wilcox is a U.S. government defense contractor, and this position requires access to export-controlled technology. Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to access U.S. government-controlled technology prior to beginning work.
Preferred:- Master's degree in Optical Engineering or Optical Systems Engineering.
- Working familiarity with NV-IPM.
- Knowledge of FRED or SPEOS.
- Familiarity setting up a clean room.
- Experience with military standards, specifically MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-810.
- Experience with laser systems, night vision/imaging systems, or target location systems.
**Compensation offered may vary depending upon job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
