Photonics Engineer

This position is for a Photonics Engineer for a large, multi-year contract supporting a cutting-edge and innovative space program. The Photonics Engineer oversees developer progress in designing, developing, and integrating complex photonic payloads into complete mission systems. This position provides Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) support to the customer's execution of the Program with responsibilities that may include, but are not limited to the following:

Role Responsibilities:

Serves as Program Office technical lead for design, development, and integration of state-of-the-art photonic payloads

• Providing technical oversight throughout the project lifecycle to ensure developer progress is in alignment with customer mission objectives and timelines

• Translates mission requirements into detailed technical specifications

• Performs systems- and element-level trade studies to optimize performance, cost, schedule, and risk

• Provides technical and cost assessment of vendor proposals

• Reviews technical reports, design artifacts, and program plans

• Evaluates prime contractor performance at milestone reviews by analyzing compliance with technical requirements and quality of deliverables

• Offers recommendations to improve program outcomes and likelihood of mission success

• Develops advocacy and outreach briefings for DoD senior leadership

• Tracks and report progress at multiple levels of contractor and government leadership

• Creates models, simulations, and analysis tools and products to model system performance and evaluate mission effectiveness

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a US Citizen

• Must possess an active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph

• BS or MS degree in relevant Science, Technology, or Engineering field of study

• 12+ Years of work experience in a relevant field, ideally on satellite programs (government or commercial)

• Technical expertise in physics, optics, and engineering principles, including a subset of the following:

• Experience with free-space, optical fiber, and/or integrated optical/photonic devices

• Knowledge of electromagnetic theory, basic spectroscopy, and non-linear optics

• Understanding of radiometry and light interaction with materials

• Practical experience in handling and operating photonic systems

• Analytical and problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot and optimize performance

• Experience with environmental qualification of photonic assemblies and components

• Effective communication, coordination, interpersonal, and customer engagement skills

• Ability to communicate technical topics to a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise

• Experience with Intelligence Community and/or DoD Program Office best practices

• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic and team-oriented environment without supervision

Desired Qualifications:

• 16+ years of work experience in a relevant field

• Experience as a PM, PEM, acquisition leader, or CO/COTR in government or commercial programs

• Experience supporting DoD resiliency programs

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.