2027 Principal Optical Engineer - Manhattan Beach CA

About the role

• RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
• CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
• CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
• TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

About the role

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon.

We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman is a space pioneer, supporting government, civil and commercial customers in solving their biggest challenges. Our forward-leaning, innovative spirit is backed by a legacy of expertise that began at the dawn of the space age. Our mission experience in space runs deep, we know our customers well, and our capabilities are unmatched. This is what allows us to provide reliable, agile and affordable space solutions to best serve our customers.

From defending freedom to advancing human discovery, we are defining what is possible in space every day.

Entry Level opportunities at Northrop Grumman are unique. Are you interested in boosting your knowledge through experience and exposure, while supporting a mission that seeks to protect our nation and its allies? If so, then Northrop Grumman is the place you!

Our professionals live and breathe different perspectives; we are curious about the world, accepting each other, and aware that the more ideas, backgrounds, opinions and experiences we bring to our work, the stronger that work will be.

Just as you would invest your time and hard work into our company, we focus on investing back into you through enriching professional experiences and high-quality learning and development opportunities. We want you to bring your whole self to work, and for you to have meaningful connections with your coworkers, customers and communities, while providing the best products, systems and technologies to protect our world.

Northrop Grumman is seeking Principal Optical Engineers. This position will be located at our Space sector in Manhattan Beach, CA.

The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman's Lasers & Sensors department, within the Electronics & Payloads group. This team provides Optical Engineering to address the generation, transmission and receipt of optical signals and energy for EO / IR sensors, optical communications terminals, laser & beam control systems, photonics and other optical mission solutions..

Roles and Responsibilities

• Designs, models, analyzes, and tests optical and electro-optical systems and components, including sensors, lasers, fiber-optics, and telecommunications products.
• Conducts research and development into phases of physical optics and geometric optics, lasers, laser characteristics, laser maintenance, and broadband optical sources.
• Applies research of complex optical systems to achieve desired optical manipulations.

Develops component specifications, tolerances, simulations and tests procedures for electro-optical systems and components. Uses design-to-cost models, six sigma methodology, and other methods to assure optical design requirements met.

Basic Qualifications

• Be completing or has completed their Doctorate (PhD) degree from an accredited institution
• Be majoring in or having majored in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) degree
• Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)
• The ability to obtain Special Access Program within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs

Preferred Qualifications

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.0 or higher

Salary Range

• $125,300 - $187,900

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.