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Anduril Industries · 1 week ago

Staff Optical Engineer, Space

Costa Mesa, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Lead/Staff

$220K/yr - $292K/yr

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company focused on enhancing military capabilities through advanced technology. The Staff Optical Engineer will lead the optical engineering for various space programs, developing EO and IR sensing products while coordinating with mission analysts and overseeing optical design and analysis.

AerospaceArtificial Intelligence (AI)GovernmentMilitaryNational Security

No H1B

Security Clearance Required

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Lead the optical engineering for optical subsystems development for various space programs in all orbital regimes, including the following responsibilities:

Coordinate with mission analysts to derive optical performance requirements such as FOV, MTF, sensitivity, allowable stray light, etc

Lead / perform optical design and analysis including sequential and non-sequential ray tracing, tolerancing for manufacturing, optimization for performance and low manufacturing cost

Define requirements in specifications, drawings, and or SOW’s for optical component or subassembly procurement, manufacturing, and assembly

Define process for and lead / perform structural, thermal, optical performance (STOP) analysis, coordinating with structural and thermal analysts and CAD designers

Define assembly, integration, and test plans and procedures for optical products

Lead / perform optical requirements verification via analysis or testing

Lead make/buy/where trades for critical optical components, subassemblies, or subsystems

Support development of the technical roadmap for optical system development for the space team leveraging Anduril’s unique technologies and 3rd party sensors

Support challenging schedules during ground testing, launch windows and on-orbit operations of the spacecraft systems

Plan, equip, and/or improve optical products lab/factory at one or more Anduril facilities to support development and qualification of new products and/or AI&T of production products

Qualification

Optical EngineeringEO/IR Systems DesignRay TracingOptical TestingOptical System DesignInfrared Sensor TestingOptical MetrologyOptical Component ProcurementClear CommunicationProblem SolvingOrganizational SkillsTeam CollaborationDocumentation Skills

Required

Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance

Strong engineering background from industry and school in Optical Engineering

Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex optical systems and detailed requirements

Experience with EO/IR systems design for remote sensing, space situational awareness, and missile or vehicle detection and tracking, in multiple orbital regimes

Experience with optical sensor payload architecture trades between scanning or step-staring for extended area coverage, including familiarity with the hardware types relevant to that trades space (precision pointing gimbals, pointing mirrors, image derotators, wide vs. narrow-FOV telescopes, etc.)

Experience with sequential and nonsequential ray tracing for optical design and analysis to meet performance requirements such as FOV, IFOV, f/#, WFE, ensquared energy, MTF, PST, OAR, and other metrics

Experience designing reflective and refractive optical systems including off-axis systems with tilted & decentered aspheres and/or free-form surface types

Experience with wavefront error testing methodologies for testing all types of optical surfaces including flats, spheres, conics, aspheres, and free forms

Experience designing optical systems to support component manufacturability, alignability, and end-to-end testability

Experience utilizing optics lab metrology including interferometers, laser trackers, corner cubes, pentaprisms, alignment scopes, autocollimators, and theodolites as needed to perform and verify complex system optical and mechanical alignments

Capable of solving complex technical problems with little oversight

Experience with infrared sensor testing and calibration utilizing thermal point sources and extended sources

Experience defining calibration plans for visible and infrared sensor systems including lab and onboard calibration processes and associated hardware and procedures

Experience working with line-of-sight control engineers to assess optical jitter and smear and optimize system performance accordingly

Familiarity with optical element manufacturing and figuring processes including single-point diamond turning, computer-controlled polishing, spherical and conic surface polishing, MRF, and others

Experience specifying, procuring, and testing optics made from different material types including glasses, IR crystals, oxides, fluorides, beryllium, silicon carbide, aluminum

Experience specifying and procuring optical coatings for spectral filters, beam splitters, high reflection, and anti-reflection

Experience defining plans and processes for and performing optical testing in a thermal vacuum chamber

Clear communication and organizational skills including documentation and training material

Preferred

Experience with Zemax, FRED, Python, and Matlab

Experience with multispectral and hyperspectral sensor design and testing, utilizing dispersing elements such as prisms and gratings

Familiarity with orbital mechanics, space EOIR mission con-ops, and space vehicle dynamics

Experience with radiometric performance analysis for visible and thermal IR sensors

Experience with LIDAR sensors and laser range finders

Familiarity with detection and tracking techniques and algorithms to suppress background clutter and otherwise improve tracks and eliminate false alarms

Familiarity with automatic target recognition techniques and algorithms

Benefits

Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees.

Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs.

Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting.

Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available.

Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development

Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region.

Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.

UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match.

AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.