Senior Optical Engineer, Design & Architecture

Waltham · Lexington, MA (LEX-01) · USD 166,000-220,000 · 5+ years experience · Full-time · Posted Sep 29, 2026

At a glance

The Imaging team is seeking an Optical Engineer to focus on design and architecture in support of an expanding and maturing product line at a transition point from prototyping to maturity.

Lead architecture decisions, optical trades for novel optical systems for broadly defined missions
Design lenses and optical components for high performance imaging systems
Understand and define optical performance requirements given multi-disciplinary engineering constraints
Transition a high TRL prototype optical assembly to a production fieldable system.
Design and tolerance complex visible to infrared optical systems to meet performance requirements for ground & airborne applications
Develop and review test setups, procedures, and data to transition products and systems from R&D to production
Evaluate and analyze prototype and production optical system performance errors to determine root cause
Work independently and collaborate with senior staff and leadership to solve interdisciplinary technical problems by serving as the Optical Engineering subject matter expert

BS in Engineering or Physics/Astronomy required with a concentration in Optics
5+ years of experience with complex opto-mechanical systems, performing optical system design, analysis, alignment and test in the workforce
Experience building wide field MWIR, LWIR, or multiband imaging optical systems
Expertise with optical design and analysis software, preferably Zemax or CodeV
Experience with STOP (Structural, Thermal, and Optical Performance) analysis
Knowledge of image quality metrics and data analysis methods
Experience with the design of diffraction limited imaging systems in dynamic environments
Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

MS or PhD preferred, but not required
Demonstrated first principles approach to complex opto-mechanical problems
Optical component testing experience (spectral transmission, interferometry, etc.), optical system alignment and testing (EE, MTF, PSF, etc.), and opto-electrical system modeling
Demonstrated experience in the integration, test, and performance requirements verification and validation of optical systems
Experience with radiometry and stray light analysis
Demonstrated team leadership experience and mentoring of junior staff
Knowledge of common materials used in optical systems and limitations of fabrication methods of optics (molded, polished, diamond turned) as well as micro structures