What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Optical Diagnostics Engineer position at Canvas?
Job Title: Senior Optical Diagnostics Engineer
Location: Arnold AFB- Tullahoma, TN (On-site)
Canvas is seeking a highly skilled and innovative engineer to lead the development and implementation of advanced optical diagnostic techniques within the aerodynamic ground test facilities of Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) 716th Test Squadron. As a key technical leader, you will be responsible for designing and executing complex optical diagnostic techniques in the subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic wind tunnels to provide mission-critical data for premier national defense and aerospace programs. This role requires a deep understanding of experimental fluid dynamics, advanced optical measurement systems, and high-fidelity data analysis.
Key Responsibilities
About Us
Founded in 2007, Canvas connects a passion for going beyond the expected with the knowledge and expertise to deliver what our clients need now and in the future. Canvas has been recognized as a Great Place to Work Certified ™, Fortune Best Small Workplace ™, Fortune Best Workplace for Millennials ™ (2022), Best Place for Working Parents (2022 & 2023), HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Awardee (2021 & 2022), Best Places to Work Awardee, 2019 Government Contracting - Technology Business of the Year, and Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year (2018) by the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce.
Benefits Of Working With Canvas
To reflect our company culture, Canvas offers an exciting array of benefits that makes up our employees' total rewards package. Those benefits may include:
Canvas is an equal opportunity employer and a VEVRAA federal contractor who affords equal employment opportunity to protected veterans and people with disabilities.
Canvas has equal employment opportunities that 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 our Careers page. U.S. citizenship is required for most positions.
Canvas is committed to expanding access to employment for people with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, and your disability prevents you from applying, please advise what reasonable accommodation Canvas can provide to assist you in applying for one of our open positions. You may contact us by sending an email to talent@canvas-inc.com.
Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation for applying for a specific posted position will be responded to. Requests will be kept confidential and shared strictly on a need-to-know basis. Please be aware, scammers may try to impersonate our company by reaching out regarding job opportunities. We will never ask you for bank account information, checks, or other sensitive information as part of our hiring process. If you're unsure, please email talent@canvas-inc.com with questions.
For further information on Canvas including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website.
Location: Arnold AFB- Tullahoma, TN (On-site)
Canvas is seeking a highly skilled and innovative engineer to lead the development and implementation of advanced optical diagnostic techniques within the aerodynamic ground test facilities of Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) 716th Test Squadron. As a key technical leader, you will be responsible for designing and executing complex optical diagnostic techniques in the subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic wind tunnels to provide mission-critical data for premier national defense and aerospace programs. This role requires a deep understanding of experimental fluid dynamics, advanced optical measurement systems, and high-fidelity data analysis.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, implement, and maintain a suite of advanced, non-intrusive optical diagnostic techniques for wind tunnel applications, including but not limited to:
- Pressure and Temperature Sensitive Paints (PSP/TSP)
- Schlieren, Shadowgraphy, and Background Oriented Schlieren (BOS)
- Infrared (IR) Thermography for heat flux and surface temperature measurement
- Flow visualization (Vapor Screen, Oil Flow)
- Particle Image, Tracking, or Tagging Velocimetry (PIV, etc.)
- High-speed imaging for model attitude and deformation measurement
- Drive the development of new diagnostic capabilities and analysis tools to advance the state-of-the-art.
- Oversee the design and development of custom diagnostic, instrumentation and software tools.
- Direct the synchronous operation and data fusion from multiple, disparate diagnostic systems.
- Perform in-depth analysis and correlation of complex test data to deliver a comprehensive data package to test customers and AEDC leadership.
- Lead and participate in test planning, execution, and reporting activities.
- Foster a culture of open communication, technical rigor, and continuous learning within the Team.
- Master's in engineering or science discipline, with 10 years of relevant experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of direct experience in an experimental aerodynamics environment, with a strong focus on aerodynamic testing and diagnostics.
- Extensive hands-on experience with a variety of optical diagnostic techniques, particularly PSP, Schlieren/BOS, and IR Thermography.
- Proven ability to lead technical teams, manage complex test campaigns, and deliver high-quality data.
- Strong programming skills for data analysis and test automation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing detailed technical reports and presenting findings to customers and leadership.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen and have the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.
- Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
- Experience with additional diagnostic techniques such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS), or stereo photogrammetry.
- Familiarity with continuous flow wind tunnel test facilities like those at AEDC.
- Strong python programming skills and familiarity with camera and networking interfaces.
- Knowledge of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and its use in simulating and analyzing experimental data.
- Demonstrated success in developing and mentoring junior engineers and scientists.
- Expert on development of data (image) processing software.
- Leadership role on technical committee(s) related to optical diagnostics test techniques.
About Us
Founded in 2007, Canvas connects a passion for going beyond the expected with the knowledge and expertise to deliver what our clients need now and in the future. Canvas has been recognized as a Great Place to Work Certified ™, Fortune Best Small Workplace ™, Fortune Best Workplace for Millennials ™ (2022), Best Place for Working Parents (2022 & 2023), HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Awardee (2021 & 2022), Best Places to Work Awardee, 2019 Government Contracting - Technology Business of the Year, and Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year (2018) by the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce.
Benefits Of Working With Canvas
To reflect our company culture, Canvas offers an exciting array of benefits that makes up our employees' total rewards package. Those benefits may include:
- Competitive Wages*
- Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Generous company-funded Basic Life Insurance
- Company-funded Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
- 11 Paid Federal Holidays
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Dependent Care and Medical Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match and 100% immediate vesting
- Tuition Reimbursement for ongoing training, continuing education, or advanced degree programs
- Robust Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Referral Bonus Program
- Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
- Spot Awards for exemplary individual performance
- *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.
- Discretionary performance-based bonuses
- And many more!
Canvas is an equal opportunity employer and a VEVRAA federal contractor who affords equal employment opportunity to protected veterans and people with disabilities.
Canvas has equal employment opportunities that 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 our Careers page. U.S. citizenship is required for most positions.
Canvas is committed to expanding access to employment for people with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, and your disability prevents you from applying, please advise what reasonable accommodation Canvas can provide to assist you in applying for one of our open positions. You may contact us by sending an email to talent@canvas-inc.com.
Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation for applying for a specific posted position will be responded to. Requests will be kept confidential and shared strictly on a need-to-know basis. Please be aware, scammers may try to impersonate our company by reaching out regarding job opportunities. We will never ask you for bank account information, checks, or other sensitive information as part of our hiring process. If you're unsure, please email talent@canvas-inc.com with questions.
For further information on Canvas including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website.