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EA
Elbit America, Inc.
Principal Systems Engineer
Career Insights for Optical / Laser Engineer
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Based on Virginia data
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What they do
An Optical or Laser Engineer researches and develops technology that uses the science of light (optics). Optical technology includes fiber optic cables, which enable high-speed internet connections across long distances, and lasers, which can be used to make very small incisions and measurements. Works closely with scientists and engineers from other fields on advances in technology.
$112,623 / year median in Virginia
-3% projected decline
Job Description
Job Summary:
The Principal Systems Engineer performs at an advanced level: requirements analysis and management, technical planning, systems level design, systems integration, verification and validation, cost and risk management, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for products in the warfighter systems portfolio. Analyses are performed during all phases of the product development process including concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, and maintenance. The Principal Systems Engineer will provide guidance to the team in the development of warfighter systems electro optical devices.Primary Duties/Responsibilities:
- Lead system-level hardware and optical bring-up, integration testing, and debug across HW, FW, SW, optics, power, and thermal domains.
- Define and execute system performance qualification plans aligned with product requirements and customer use cases.
- Own pre-reliability screening activities including stress, soak, power-cycle, and thermal-cycle tests to identify early system-level risks.
- Lead system-level pre-compliance testing including EMI/EMC pre-scan, SI/PI margin checks, and noise susceptibility.
- Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for qualification issues in partnership with design, test, and reliability teams.
- Own the System Product Qualification (PQ) Plan, execution tracking, and readiness reporting.
- Provide clear, data-driven Go/No-Go recommendations at qualification and release milestones
Business Relationships:
(This position interfaces with)- Individual engineers and subsystem-level subject matter experts within and outside of the project team
Program Manager Education:
- Bachelor of Science degree in the engineering field
- Preferred - Master of Science in the engineering field
Experience and Skills:
- Ability to obtain a secret clearance
- Minimum of 8+ years of systems engineering experience
- Experience working within the aerospace or defense industry, and delivering solutions to the appropriate standards
- Experience with customer discovery/stakeholder needs and requirements
- Experience with requirements management, flows down, verification & validation during the product life cycle
- Excellent communication skills with multi-disciplinary engineering team and government customers
- Experience with technical leadership of multi-disciplinary design teams (such as electrical, mechanical, optical, image science, software, firmware, or test engineers)
- Proficient in written (reports, proposals, white papers) and verbal skills (technical presentations)
Preferred Attributes:
- Technical skills, including Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) with Cameo
- Experience with VIS-NIR cameras
- Certified to INCOSE CSEP or ESEP
- Experience with Electro-Optical imaging systems (cameras), system design, integration, and test
- Experience delivering compliant Electro-Optical imaging systems to customer requirements .