Systems Engineer- Electro-Optical

Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country’s most challenging technical problems.

All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.

Position Overview

We are hiring a senior Electro-Optical (EO) Systems Engineer to support the development, modeling, testing, and fielding of advanced EO and infrared (IR) sensing systems and reconnaissance payloads for national security applications.

Candidates will participate in system design, requirements development, modeling/simulation, data analysis, and field/operational testing for DoD and Intelligence Community (IC) programs. Work spans concept development through transition to operational capability.

This role supports high-impact mission areas in space control, missile warning/defense, and remote sensing.

Why Join Us

• Direct, meaningful contribution to high-priority national security missions.
• Opportunities to work on emerging EO/IR technologies across space and defense sectors.
• Culture of mentorship, technical development, and internal mobility.
• Ability to influence system architecture and deliver fielded capability.
  
  

Responsibilities

• Lead concept development and detailed design of advanced EO sensing architectures.
• Define and manage requirements; perform architecture trades and performance modeling.
• Oversee lab and field test campaigns and present findings to senior stakeholders.
• Translate performance data into mission-level insights and recommendations.
• Lead development of modeling/simulation tools; guide junior engineers.
• Service as technical POC to DoD/IC mission partners.
• Shape strategy through white papers, proposals, and roadmap development.
  
  

Required

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or other related scientific discipline: M.S. or Ph.D. degree preferred.
• 12 years experience in EO/IR sensing system development, modeling and test.
• Proven expertise in leading the design and integration of electro-optical systems, including experience with lenses, filters, mirrors, detectors, lasers, and other imaging components.
• TS/SCI clearance
  
  

Desired

• Experience in spacecraft systems engineering; novel constellation design and orbitology (xGEO, HEO, cislunar); electronics and on-board processing architectures; and environmental, thermal, and radiation modeling and testing.
• Experience in EO/IR payload designs, high sensitivity and high dynamic range detectors for applications in space domain awareness, missile warning/defense, and dim object dection/tracking.
• Familiarity with extended spectrum imaging (UV, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR) systems and multispectral imaging (MSI), hyperspetral imaging (HSI), and hypertemporal imaging (HTI) sensor technologies.
• Experience working with AFRL, NRO, NASIC, USSF, NSDC, NAVY, etc.
  
  

Common Skills & Traits

Technical

• EO/IR fundamentals
• Radiometric/ photometric analysis
• Laboratory development of modeling and simulation software tools (Matlab/Simulink, Python, Labview, Mathcad)
• Optical systems design and analysis tools (Zemax, FRED, GLAD, Code-V, LASCAD)
• Test planning, execution, and reporting
• Data analysis and QC
• Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools such as JIRA, DOORS, CAMEO, CREO, SysML
• Requirements interpretation
• Strong documentation skills
  
  

Professional

• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams
• Mission-focused mindset
• Organizational discipline with technical rigor
  
  

Global Comp

125,000 - 250,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.

Closing Statement

Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees.

Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.