Principal Optical Engineer

Responsibilities

• Guide and author data collection and analysis software
• Collaborate with firmware development, electronics interface control, and optical teams
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues in the lab and in the field
• Communicate with project management, customers, and cross-disciplinary team members
• Develop detection and calibration algorithms for optical systems
• Simulate electro-optical payloads including radiometric, detector, and optical prescriptions
• Review technical documents and resolve engineering integration issues

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• 12+ years of experience in optical systems development, performance modeling, and data analysis
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, metrology, interferometry, and imaging-system characterization
• Expertise with electro-optical systems, imaging systems, and light sources
• Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, Zemax (or similar), and FRED

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Optical Engineering or Physics
• Experience with EO/IR payloads, infrared focal planes, or space-based sensor systems
• Experience with stray light design and analysis for visible and infrared systems
• Experience writing alignment procedures, test scripts, and verification plans
• Experience with automated test equipment or optical STE
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

About the Company

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more. Their Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft to precision payloads and subsystems like star trackers and optical systems.