Optical Systems Engineer

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Optical Systems Engineer with expertise in lasers, optical systems, and hands-on laboratory development to mature advanced optical technologies from early-stage R&D prototypes into robust, field-deployable systems.

You'll combine your strong technical knowledge of laser systems, optical architectures, opto-mechanical integration, alignment, controls, and optical measurements with the ability to lead engineers and technicians through system development, integration, testing, and transition to production.

This position serves as a critical bridge between R&D and engineering and product development, translating emerging technologies into reliable, manufacturable, maintainable, and field-ready systems with progressively higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).

The successful candidate will work directly in the laboratory, troubleshoot complex optical systems, develop experimental methods, guide technical teams, and establish processes for transitioning research concepts into operational systems across Laboratory, Engineering, R&D, and Product and Field environments.

What You'll Work On

• Lead the design, integration, characterization, and testing of complex optical and laser systems.
• Define system architectures, requirements, specifications, and performance metrics.
• Develop test configurations, and verification methods.
• Troubleshoot and improve optical subsystems and integrated systems with R&D team
• Translate research results into engineering requirements and development plans.
• Mature prototypes from laboratory demonstrations through engineering development and field deployment.
• Assess performance, reliability, manufacturability, maintainability, and deployment readiness.
• Identify technical risks and establish mitigation strategies.
• Lead design reviews, verification planning, acceptance testing, and technology transfer.
• Provide technical direction to engineers, scientists, technicians, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Assign tasks, set priorities, and coordinate resources with the technical director.
• Establish best practices for optical design, testing, documentation, configuration management, and integration.
• Convert mission requirements into measurable subsystem specifications.
• Collaborate with electrical, RF, mechanical, software, firmware, quality, and manufacturing teams.
• Apply design-for-reliability, manufacturability, and maintainability principles.
• Support qualification, reliability, calibration, acceptance testing, deployment, and field troubleshooting.
• Create system specifications, interface-control documents, test procedures, alignment guides, troubleshooting guides, and verification documentation.

Join us. The world can't wait.

You Have

• 10+ years of experience developing optical, laser, photonic, or electro-optical systems
• Experience with optical alignment, characterization, troubleshooting, and integration
• Experience with photodiodes or APDs, optical power measurement, spectroscopy, beam characterization, and optical noise measurement
• Experience with fiber-optic and free-space optical systems
• Experience transitioning experimental prototypes into mature engineering systems or products
• Experience leading and collaborating with engineers, scientists, and technicians in laboratory and system-engineering environments
• Knowledge of laser linewidth, frequency and power stability, frequency and intensity noise or RIN, mode behavior, and wavelength stability
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance
• Master’s degree in an optical engineering, photonics, physics, or electrical engineering field

Nice If You Have

• Experience with atomic, quantum, spectroscopy, sensing, or photonic systems.
• Experience with Rydberg-atom sensing, atomic spectroscopy, RF or optical sensing, or integrated RF and microwave systems
• Experience developing automated laboratory test systems
• Experience with TRL maturation, system qualification, and field deployment.
• Experience in government, defense, aerospace, or other high-reliability environments
• Experience with Pound–Drever–Hall (PDH) and offset phase locking
• Experience in continuous-wave and ultrastable lasers, frequency stabilization, linewidth and frequency-noise reduction, RIN, beam delivery, optical modulation, fiber optics, nonlinear optics, and optical detection
• Doctorate degree in an optical engineering, photonics, physics, or electrical engineering field

Clearance

Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Compensation

At Booz Allen, we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities and choices, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care.

Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our values. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in Booz Allen’s benefit programs. Individuals that do not meet the threshold are only eligible for select offerings, not inclusive of health benefits.

We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Resource page on our Careers site and reviewing Our Employee Benefits page.

Salary at Booz Allen is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $99,000.00 to $225,000.00 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Booz Allen’s total compensation package for employees. This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

Identity Statement

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

AI is a part of our daily work at Booz Allen, and we are committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI tools. However, we want to ensure a fair candidate process based on your own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is prohibited unless permission is explicitly provided.

Work Model

Our people-first culture prioritizes the benefits of collaboration. To support engagement and effective communication, employees working virtually are generally expected to have their cameras on during meetings.

• Remote: If this position is listed as remote, there may still be occasions when you are required to work in person at a Booz Allen or customer facility.
• Hybrid: If this position is listed as hybrid, you will be expected to work from a Booz Allen or customer facility, in alignment with your leadership's expectations and the needs of the role.
• Onsite: If this position is listed as onsite, work will primarily be performed full-time at a customer facility, where employees will collaborate directly with colleagues and customers as required by the role.