Optical Design Engineer (Associate or Mid-Level)

Boeing Defense, Space and Security (BDS) is seeking an Associate or Mid-Level Optical Design Engineer to join their team at the Starfire Optical Range on Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The successful candidate will lead the design, simulation, and integration of high-precision optical systems, transitioning conceptual opto-mechanical frameworks into functional, state-of-the-art experimental hardware.

Responsibilities:

• Perform hands-on optical design, ray tracing, and wavefront modeling using industry-standard design tools
• Analyze optical system performance, including wavefront error, stray light, and distortion over temperature and structural variations
• Design, model, and implement advanced optical architectures
• Analyze interferometry, wavefront, and metrology data from real-world optical payloads to refine design tolerances and improve alignment strategies
• Design, optimize, and validate complex optical systems in Zemax OpticStudio or Code V
• Develop and execute optical bench testing, assembly integration, and interferometric verification to validate physical hardware against design models
• Integrate optical designs with precision opto-mechanical mounts, active deformable mirrors, and sensor payloads on stable laboratory and telescope platforms

Benefits:

• Direct impact on the advancement of Space Domain Awareness capabilities
• Opportunity to work with world-class telescopes and advanced optical systems
• Ownership of the architecture, development, and long-term health of a key application
• Part of a supportive, enthusiastic team of experts in various fields
• Opportunities for learning and advancement

Requirements:

• Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required)
• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (with a focus in Electrical, Mechanical or Aeronautical), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications
• 2+ years of experience in optical design
• 2+ years of experience with design, development, testing, and troubleshooting of advanced Electro-Optical Systems
• Willingness to work variable shifts, including days, evenings, nights, and weekends

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Active U.S. Top Secret Security Clearance
• Advanced study in Optical Specialization
• Experience working with adaptive optics systems
• Experience with high power lasers
• Optical System Integration: knowledge of multi-discipline integration issues applicable to infrared/electro-optical (IR/EO), visible, ultraviolet (UV), photonics, fiber, high energy laser, and optics
• 5+ years of experience performing modeling and/or simulation of Electro-Optical and Infrared systems with a technical computing language, such as Matlab or Mathematica