Optical Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton

. Support testing of state-of-the-art directed energy weapons systems .

Posted 11/5/2026full-timeDahlgren • Virginia • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $77,500 - $176,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive expertise in optical systems, laser technologies, and electro-optic components, with a strong ability to design test setups and analyze data for military applications. Proven experience collaborating across engineering specialties to enhance weapon systems capabilities.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Optical Test EquipmentLaser SystemsElectro-Optic SensorsTest Setup DesignU.S. Navy Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Optical Test EquipmentLaser SystemsImage ProcessingTest Setup DesignData RecordingOptical Component AlignmentHEL Weapon SystemsFiber Laser TechnologyPulsed LasersSpectroscopy

Soft Skills

CollaborationAdaptabilityProfessionalism

Tools & Technologies

FREDZemaxWaveTrainSolidworksMATLAB

Certifications & Qualifications

Secret Clearance

Industry Keywords

Directed Energy WeaponsOpticsElectro-OpticsIntelligence, Surveillance, and ReconnaissanceMilitary Systems

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support testing of state-of-the-art directed energy weapons systems
Provide optical technical expertise to the U.S. Navy and other Department of War entities
Support and test electro-optic (EO) components
Test state-of-the-art weapon systems to enhance warfighter capabilities
Work with optical systems, optics, and lasers while broadening technical skills
Collaborate with mechanical, optical, and software engineering specialties across a functional team
Design test setups and develop test plans
Record data and report meaningful results
Assist in testing high-priority weapons systems
Contribute to the design, building, integration, and testing of laser weapons systems

Requirements

What you’ll need

5+ years of experience with optical test equipment, including oscilloscopes, power meters, photodiodes, detectors, interferometers, wavefront sensors, spectrometers, or beam profilers
5+ years of experience with alignment of optical components, cameras, lasers, or opto-mechanics
3+ years of experience in labs including designing test setups, development of test plans, recording data, and reporting meaningful results
Experience in laser systems, including gain media, pump sources, thermal management and control, opto-mechanics, optical coatings, substrates, characterization and specification, beam shaping, or beam control
Experience with image processing for object tracking and detection, recognition, and identification, and in the testing of EO sensors as it applies to overall integration into a weapons system
Knowledge of the major components and integration of laser systems, including the optical train
Ability to collaborate with a variety of engineering specialties, such as mechanical, optical, or software, across a functional team in the development of optical systems
Ability to learn, adapt, and assist in testing of high priority weapons systems in a professional environment
Ability to obtain a Secret clearance
Bachelor's degree in an Optics, Physics, or Electrical Engineering field
10+ years of experience working with U.S. Navy or other military service laser and EO systems
5+ years of experience with HEL weapon systems, including fiber laser technology
5+ years of experience with ISR EO technology development, analysis, test and evaluation (T&E), and platform integration
Experience working with design and analysis software, including FRED, Zemax, WaveTrain, Solidworks, or MATLAB, and creating models using these packages in the design and layout of optical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems
Experience with pulsed lasers, fiber optics, free-space optics, nonlinear optics, spectroscopy, imaging and radiometric tools, or integrated photonics
Experience analyzing the effectiveness of HEL interactions with materials and components, laser propagation theory, and experiment, including modeling and characterizations of laser performance in relevant military environments and ranges
Knowledge of practical problems associated with the design, building, integration, and testing of laser weapons systems
Master's degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field preferred; Doctorate degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field a plus
Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health benefits
Life insurance
Disability benefits
Financial benefits
Retirement benefits
Paid leave
Professional development
Tuition assistance
Work-life programs
Dependent care
Recognition awards program for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of values