Optical Engineer

Optical Engineer

Job ID: 2613719

Location: Denver, CO, United States

Date Posted: Jul 22, 2026

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Mod/Sim Analyst

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI with Poly

Potential for Remote Work: On-Site

Benefits: Click here

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Job Description

Description

SAIC is seeking a senior Multi-Disciplinary Optical Engineer to join the Space and Intelligence Business Group. You would work on a joint Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) crown jewel program providing highly specialized space/counter-space engineering, scientific, and analytical services from Aurora/Denver, Colorado. We support the Nation's leading-edge IC and DoD space programs and offer compelling, deep-technical work that has direct influence and impact on program development and operations. Our team has Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across a variety of disciplines, including physics, math, RF, optics, space acquisition and operations, and intelligence collection and analysis.

The Senior Optical Project Engineer will work in a collaborative team-focused environment of U.S. Government civilians and contractors solving applied technical problems and developing usable solutions for multiple space-related capabilities and threats. The ideal candidate will:

Have knowledge and experience with the performance of:

• Ground or space-based optical or laser systems, the fields of photonics or optoelectronics, space object optical characterization, or optical data processing techniques
• Optical systems in Space Domain Awareness (SDA) applications
• Be able to lead, track, and status projects for a small team of optical engineers focused on program-specific analysis, foreign threat capabilities and development, and phenomenology research
• Have experience generating new satellite models or adapting existing mission partner models for on-orbit simulation scenarios
• Be fluent with the synthesis and application of space object optical signatures, electro-optical
• (EO) sensor models, lighting and environmental effects to simulate the space object detection, feature discrimination, and/or characterization by space domain awareness (SDA) systems
• Be able to design, develop, and quantify results for satellite simulations that accurately represent the system state and have familiarity with post-processing techniques of optical sensor data that extract additional insights or translate the data into operationally relevant information
• Possess knowledge of optical systems and their use in SDA
• Have experience with modeling and simulation of optical and laser systems such as LEEDR, HardShell or Helios
• Be motivated by problem solving and developing a range of solutions, over system development

This position qualifies for enhanced benefits.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Lead a team of optical engineers and analysts in Perform program-specific analyses, understand foreign threat capabilities and development, and conduct optical and laser phenomenology research
• Perform rapid prototyping of optical modeling and simulation tools of various fidelities
• Designing and editing satellite models and optical simulations to inform analyses and trade studies related to operational scenarios
• Developing estimates of space object optical signatures using physics-based methods or via similarity to existing data
• Developing and refining innovative concepts for space laser systems and architectures, knowledge of advanced engineering principles and state-of-the-art technology.
• System CONOPS, considering operational trade-offs, environmental effects, and mission requirements
• Conducting detailed assessments and analysis of space laser system performance, focusing on rigorous link budget modeling, system efficiencies, and platform-specific trade-offs.
• Ability to conduct link budget analysis, considering various system and operational parameters. Evaluate the impacts of different modulation techniques, laser architectures, and photonics technologies on overall system performance.
• Simulating SDA data of space objects that represent the sensor system's spatial, spectral, and other capabilities under representative seeing conditions
• Quantifying impacts and sensitivity to changes in Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), scenarios and/or threats
• Developing and briefing analytical results for stand-alone and broader assessment products
• Achieving detailed understanding of multiple satellite systems, designs, operations, and classifications in order to make design or CONOPS recommendations
• Developing and maintaining in-depth knowledge of U.S. and Foreign SDA optical capabilities
• Frequently interacting with program managers, SETAs, FFRDCs and external stakeholders
• Developing productive relationships with the Program Office, Prime, and Subcontract counterparts, functional IC or DoD counterparts, and other SMEs
• Tasking, timelines, status, and deliverables for the optical team across the analysis, threat and phenomenology functions
• Represent the Optical team and coordinate with cross-phenomenology project engineers and teams:
• Understand and negotiate needs for Optical team support and/or status tasks previously assigned to the Optical team
• Execute the above in the office workflow process, which includes team meetings, scrums, product peer reviews, and program-specific meetings
• Maintain the Optical team's JIRA elements (e.g. tasks, resources, schedule) and their digital notebook that contains internal/external team meeting notes, and trip reports

Qualifications

Minimum of a bachelor's degree in physics, Engineering or Math and 14 or more years 12 or more with a Masters, 9 or more with a PhD) of direct experience

Active TS/SCI Clearance with Special Access eligibility and consent to a Counter Intelligence (CI) polygraph. US Citizenship is required

Experience with ground or space-based optical or laser systems, the fields of photonics or optoelectronics, space object optical characterization or data processing techniques

Understanding material properties, and component characteristics to determine performance, susceptibilities, and operational reliability.

Experience with project or task technical leadership

Experience with JIRA project management tool and familiarity with Agile concepts

Understanding of fundamentals of astrodynamics and space systems

Knowledge of space system acquisitions or space technology developments

Demonstrated record of effective individual and group work behaviors, with abilities to proactively initiate and operate in dynamic and incompletely defined environments

Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience conveying technical concepts, results, and summaries to internal customers, external customers, and stakeholders of diverse technical backgrounds

Strongly Desired Skills:

Master's degree in physics, Engineering, or Mathematics

Familiarity or experience with optical systems in Space Domain Awareness (SDA) applications

Working knowledge of laser propagation, atm scattering, and laser communication modulation formats and techniques

Experience with optical communications and space hardware testing including development of testbeds, ground support test equipment, test programs and management of test program execution for lasercom, component, units, subsystems or systems

Familiarity with National Security Space architecture (IC and/or DoD)

Familiarity with US Intelligence Community resources and products

Fluent in specialized software tools or scripting languages relevant for space systems, such as MATLAB, Python, C++, or Zemax and MODTRAN

Experience modeling optical systems in STK

Previous experience with laser communications hardware and systems

Experience performing atmospheric transmission modelling

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

Overview

SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline.

SAIC is a premier mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, intelligence, and civilian markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services, and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.

We are approximately 23,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.3 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.

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