Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Engineer

About the role

You will join a defense technology company building electro-optical and infrared systems that see what radar cannot, from long-range surveillance to precision targeting. The EO/IR team designs sensors across visible, near-infrared, and thermal bands, spanning optics, detectors, stabilization, and the algorithms that turn pixels into tracks. Your work ends with imagery and measurements an operator can act on, proven through radiometric modeling, lab characterization, and field trials against calibrated targets.

What you will achieve

• Design an EO/IR sensor chain from optics through detector to processing, meeting range and resolution requirements with quantified margin.
• Build radiometric models that predict signal-to-noise across day, night, and weather conditions within 20 percent of measured performance.
• Implement image processing for detection and tracking, demonstrating stable track on dim targets in cluttered infrared scenes.
• Lead lab and field characterization of a sensor, including MTF, NETD, and range performance measurements against calibrated targets.
• Cut integration time by delivering a sensor interface and calibration procedure that the software team can use without your constant involvement.
• Deliver an end-to-end sensor performance model linking optical design choices to detection range predictions used in system trades.

What you will bring

Must-haves

• You bring 2 to 5 years of experience in electro-optical or infrared system design, analysis, or test.
• You understand radiometry, detector physics, and the noise sources that limit infrared performance.
• You have designed or analyzed optical systems with tools such as Zemax or equivalent.
• You code image processing or sensor algorithms in MATLAB, Python, or C++ using libraries like OpenCV.
• You are familiar with laser rangefinding, designators, or active illumination principles.
• You test methodically in the lab and the field, with calibrated measurements you can defend.
• You have performed radiometric calibration of a sensor system, including non-uniformity correction and absolute calibration.

Nice-to-haves

• You have worked with cooled or uncooled focal plane arrays and their readout electronics.
• You bring experience with atmospheric propagation modeling for EO/IR performance prediction.
• You have supported airborne or maritime sensor trials.
• You hold an active security clearance or can obtain one.
• You bring experience with gimbal or stabilization design for airborne EO/IR payloads.