Senior Optical Engineer

The mission of the Penn State Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) is to develop innovative solutions to challenging national problems in support of Navy, Department of Defense (DoD), and Intelligence Community research, engineering and technology needs.

We are seeking an experienced Electro-Optic and Infrared (EO / IR) Systems Engineer to join our Sensors, Signals, and Software Department in the Electro-Optics and Electronics division located in Freeport PA (just outside of Pittsburgh).

This department supports DoD acquisitions through electro-optics, electronics, and software trade space definition, exploration, and reduction to inform next generation DoD architectures and capabilities.

In this role you will :

• Take on challenges where the path the research may take is not clear, and the outcome is not known or guaranteed.
• Perform physics-based modeling to predict the performance of imaging system concepts and designs.
• Drive system level trade studies to develop architectures and allocate system level requirements across subsystems and engineering disciplines.
• Be heavily involved in camera selection and evaluation covering the full spectrum of visible, shortwave (SWIR), midwave (MWIR), and longwave (LWIR) infrared.
• Lead the team on all aspects of system test (lab, environmental, and field testing) including authoring test plans, identification of the appropriate test equipment, and execution of the tests themselves.
• Leverage prior first-hand experience with building and testing imaging systems to help the team avoid the traditional pitfalls in imaging designs.
• Routinely interface with sponsors, customers, and end-users to understand their problems, brainstorm solutions, scope research, communicate the technical aspects of research execution, and convey the significance of results.
• Track the latest developments in imaging cameras, physics-based modeling, and imaging improvement / enhancement techniques and advise on how and when to integrate them into on-going and future research opportunities.
• Provide input to the strategic direction of the department's research pursuits by helping to establish the appropriate core competencies and evaluating where our capabilities best align with a sponsor's needs.

Required skills and experience include :

Other desired skills and experience include :

This position will be filled at the mid to senior professional level, depending upon the successful candidate's education and experience.

ARL is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. ARL is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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