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Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions.
The Emerging Space Systems division at Leidos currently has an opening for a Senior Optical Engineer to work in our San Diego, CA office. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to develop sensors that support critical Department of Defense (DoD) missions, such as Missile Warning/Tracking, Space Domain Awareness (SDA), and Space Control. In this context, we develop next-generation opto-mechanical systems and laser communication technologies designed to survive and thrive in challenging orbital environments.
Primary Responsibilities
System Design & Testing: Lead the test setup design, alignment, and testing of complex optical systems in a laboratory environment, focusing on free-space and fiber-coupled architectures.
Laser Operations: Directly manage and operate Class 3b and 4 laser systems, spanning both visible and Infrared (IR) wavelengths, ensuring all experiments comply with rigorous laser safety standards.
Radiometric Analysis: Perform detailed radiometric analysis and measurements to characterize optical power, irradiance, and radiance across various system apertures.
Instrumentation & Electronics: Set up, calibrate, and operate laboratory instrumentation and electronics to drive and monitor optical components, including laser controllers, TECs, and detector bias circuits.
Automation: Develop and maintain test automation scripts to control laboratory hardware and streamline data collection processes.
Detector Integration: Integrate and characterize highly sensitive detector technologies, including Avalanche Photodiodes (APD), Geiger-mode APDs (GmAPD), and Single Photon Counting Detectors (SPCDs) as well as IR and visible focal planes.
Customer Interaction: Interface directly with customers to provide technical updates, present design reviews, and translate mission requirements into hardware specifications.
Documentation: Author comprehensive technical reports, test plans, and data analysis summaries for internal stakeholders and external customers.
Cleanliness Standards: Maintain hardware integrity by working within controlled environments, ensuring all optical assembly and testing meet strict cleanliness standards.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor of Science degree with 12+ years of prior relevant experience or Master of Science with 10+ years of prior relevant experience. May possess a Doctorate in a relevant technical domain.
Clearance: Must have an active SECRET clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
Instrumentation Equipment: Proven expertise in the setup and operation of precision optical and electronic instrumentation, including:
Optical Metrology: Hands-on use of interferometers (e.g., Zygo, 4D), wavefront sensors, and autocollimators.
Signal Analysis: Proficiency with high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and bit error rate testers (BERT).
Power & Control: Experience with precision source measure units (SMU), multi-channel data acquisition (DAQ) systems, and low-noise current/voltage sources.
Laser Safety & Compliance: Must be expert in laser safety and compliance protocols (ANSI Z136.1), including defining Nominal Hazard Zones (NHZ) and implementing controls for Class 3b and 4 lasers.
Cleanroom Experience: Proven experience working in an ISO-rated cleanroom environment (e.g., ISO 5, 6, or 7).
Electronics & Automation: Proficiency in operating laboratory electronics and the ability to program in a scripting language (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW) to automate test sequences.
Radiometry: Must be able to perform radiometry, including the calculation and measurement of optical power budgets and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR).
Optical Alignment Proficiency: Must be proficient in the alignment of complex optical systems, including precision alignment of lens systems, mirrors, and fiber-to-free-space coupling.
Detector Expertise: Hands-on experience working with highly sensitive detectors (APD, GmAPD, and/or LmAPD).
Preferred Qualifications
Telescope Design: Familiarity with telescope design and architectures (e.g., Three-Mirror Anastigmat, Cassegrain, or Off-axis Parabolas).
Proposal Support: Experience supporting technical proposals, including drafting Technical Volumes and developing Basis of Estimates (BOEs).
Advanced Scripting: Advanced proficiency in Python for hardware control and instrument interfacing (SCPI, VISA).
Industry Standards: Experience with space-qualified optical hardware or SDA OCT specification compliance.
Mechanical Integration: Familiarity with opto-mechanical packaging for high-vibration or thermal-stress environments.
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
May 26, 2026
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 $131,300.00 - $237,350.00
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.
Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023.
Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®.
Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos.
Your most important work is ahead, visit careers.leidos.com for our latest opportunities.
