Optical Engineer – Lead

Overview

Join to apply for the Optical Engineer – Lead role at nou Systems, Inc.

This range is provided by nou Systems, Inc.. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

$/yr - $/yr

nou Systems, Inc. (nSI) is now officially a 100% ESOP company
! We value teamwork and collaboration, and this transition allows us to take that commitment to a new level. nSI empowers our customers by supplying products, services, and expertise with powerful, data driven insights that transform defense systems and improve capabilities.

nou Systems, Inc. (nSI) is seeking a highly skilled Optical Engineer to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for optical sensor systems in support of the U.S. Army Reagan Test Site (RTS). Optical sensors have been integral to RTS since the 1960s, providing unmatched visible and infrared tracking for missile and space missions.

While the Prime Contractor executes day-to-day operations, nSI engineers work alongside RTS leadership, the Prime Contractor, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL) to ensure that RTS optical systems are fully mission-ready and capable of meeting evolving requirements. The successful candidate will act as the technical authority for optical sensor capabilities, evaluate performance across the range’s five Super RADOT sites, and provide engineering expertise to guide mission operations, CONOPS evolution, and long-term modernization strategies.

• Serve as RTS’s optical systems SME, representing nSI in collaboration with RTS leadership, the Prime Contractor, and MIT/LL.
• Monitor performance and readiness of high-resolution visible and infrared sensors paired with 24-inch class apertures on two-axis gimbal mounts.
• Ensure optical systems achieve stringent metric accuracy and signature data collection requirements for missile and space missions.
• Provide independent technical assessment and recommendations on upgrades, risks, and technology roadmaps.
• Support mission planning, real-time execution, and post-mission analysis with expert optical engineering input.
• Inform CONOPS development and operational changes to optimize performance and resiliency.
• Collaborate across radar, telemetry, and instrumentation teams for integrated mission success.
• Track emerging optical technologies and assess applicability to RTS operations.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
• 7+ years of relevant experience with advanced optical systems, visible/infrared sensors, or tracking instrumentation.
• Proven expertise in optical system design, calibration, and performance characterization.
• Strong systems engineering background with ability to assess requirements, readiness, and mission risks.
• Experience working in joint environments with government, contractor, and laboratory partners.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance.

• Experience with test ranges, missile defense, or space tracking operations.
• Familiarity with radar-optical integration and distributed control architectures.
• Ability to lead technically without direct operational control of systems.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across multi-organization teams.

• Competitive Wages*
• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Medical plan with Health Savings Account eligibility
• Company-funded Life, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Personal Time Off, Vacation, and Paid Holidays
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Norton Life Lock
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Personal Development, Technical Learning Opportunities, & Lunch-n-Learns
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Final compensation for this position is determined by a variety of factors, such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location.

nSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Employment opportunities at nSI are based upon a candidate’s qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job and are free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit  U.S. citizenship is required for most positions.

• Mid-Senior level

• Full-time

• Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

• Defense and Space Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at nou Systems, Inc. by 2x

Apply BELOW