1255 - Senior Optical Engineer

Monte Sano Research Corporation (MSRC) is a Huntsville-based Small Business specializing in providing full-spectrum defense system engineering, research, design, development, integration, test, evaluation, and planning services to the U.S. Government.

As an ESOP company, our employee-owners are personally invested in the success of our customers, our programs, and one another. Our primary focus at MSRC is to provide extraordinary talent to propel the Warfighter, and we seek to hire people who are Elevated (always do the right thing), Exceptional (the very best at what they do), and Enduring (self-disciplined; self-motivated).

MSRC is seeking a part-time/Principal Advisor Senior Optical Engineer to support technical efforts for our missile guidance integration and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) test team. In this role, you will work closely with our HWIL engineers to prototype, design, develop, and integrate high-fidelity testing of advanced EO/IR missile seekers and optical systems. This role bridges the gap between simulation and real-world performance, ensuring our warfighters have the most advanced, reliable technology.

Job Description

• Work with our senior engineering team to design, build, and maintain real-time, closed-loop HWIL simulation capabilities, including EO/IR scene generation, EO/IR scene projection, and data acquisition systems.
• Perform hands-on testing of EO/IR seekers, projectors, collimators, lenses, mirrors, calibration sensors, and optical systems.
• Develop and document test plans, procedures, and reports for acceptance testing of EO/IR systems.
• Collaborate with guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) engineers, algorithm developers, and software teams to integrate hardware and software components.
• Support HWIL missile guidance tests for various Army weapon systems.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 15 years of experience in optical engineering for EO/IR seekers and sensors including HWIL and outdoor testing.
• Familiarity with EO/IR blackbody radiometric calibration for EO/IR seekers and sensors; laser instrumentation to measure pulse width, pulse energy, pulse timing jitter; galvanometers and fast steering mirror systems.
• Detail-oriented self-starter with strong work ethic required.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast paced environment.
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Active Secret DoD Clearance or eligibility to obtain clearance.
  
  

MSRC’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) practices are grounded in federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), among others. These laws prohibit discrimination in employment based on race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, and other protected characteristics. They also prohibit preferential treatment based on any such trait. These protections apply across all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, training, and termination.