Optical Design Engineer

Description

The Leidos Innovations Center currently has an opening for an Optical Design Engineer to work in our San Diego, CA office. This is an exciting opportunity to develop disruptive optical technologies that could be integrated into future space systems—a business area in which Leidos is transforming the payloads solutions for the future.

As an Optical Design Engineer, you will directly support a rapidly growing sector within the Division by designing, developing, and demonstrating new optical technologies that could drastically reduce size, weight, power, and cost of compact satellite optical payloads.

Responsibilities would initially be in working with current optical designers to understand the trades in optical payload design, investigation into new optics including diffractive optics, meta-optics, and gradient index lenses, and developing new insights and capabilities in integration of such technologies into future optical payload development. Future responsibilities will likely include serving as a Principal Investigator (PI) on Contract R&D efforts with the Government, working on novel payload concepts through internal R&D (IRAD) effort, and may include the opportunity to serve as a supervisor.

This position is an on-site role in San Diego, CA. There may be some opportunity to telework as available.

Primary Responsibilities

Leverage expertise in optics design and new optics technologies to analyze trades in performance and size, weight, and power for satellite optical payloads

Utilize modeling tools to develop insights in co-design of different optical technologies in a single optical payload

Collaborate with optical designers and other teammates to evaluate and mature optics technologies, and develop a pipeline to transition them to production and integration into optical payloads

Contribute to developing a roadmap of novel imaging technologies for future space systems, and explore nascent concepts

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or closely related area with 4+ years of relevant experience, Master's degree with 2+ years of relevant experience, or Ph.D. in above mentioned technical area (preferred)

Must be a U.S. Citizen

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance

4+ years of experience aligning and characterizing imaging systems (or 2+ years with Master's degree)

1+ years of experience with full-wave optical design tools such as COMSOL, CST, or Lumerical

1+ years of experience with lens design tools such as Zemax or Code V

1+ years of experience with MATLAB

Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work directly with customers and deliver results

Dedication to the mission and a strong ability to guide a team towards goals and deliver real world products

Proficiency with technical writing, documentation, and organization

Robust sense of initiative and the ability to work independently

Preferred Qualifications

Ph.D. in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or closely related area with 2+ years of prior relevant experience

Active Secret security clearance

Experience in developing hybrid optical systems with novel optical components

Experience with fabrication and characterization of optics, including diffractive/meta-optics

Experience designing computational imaging systems

Experience in proposal development and business development

LInC

Original Posting:April 22, 2025

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:Pay Range $85,150.00 - $153,925.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Full Time