1255 - Senior Optical Engineer
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Monte Sano Research Corporation
Huntsville, AL, US
Summary
The Senior Optical Engineer will design, develop, and integrate high-fidelity HWIL testing capabilities for advanced EO/IR missile seekers. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams to perform hands-on testing and document test procedures for Army weapon systems.
Job Description
Monte Sano Research Corporation (MSRC) is a Huntsville-based Small Business specializing in providing full-spectrum defense system engineering, research, design, development, integration, test, evaluation, and planning services to the U.S. Government.
As an ESOP company, our employee-owners are personally invested in the success of our customers, our programs, and one another. Our primary focus at MSRC is to provide extraordinary talent to propel the Warfighter, and we seek to hire people who are Elevated (always do the right thing), Exceptional (the very best at what they do), and Enduring (self-disciplined; self-motivated).
MSRC is seeking a part-time/Principal Advisor Senior Optical Engineer to support technical efforts for our missile guidance integration and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) test team. In this role, you will work closely with our HWIL engineers to prototype, design, develop, and integrate high-fidelity testing of advanced EO/IR missile seekers and optical systems. This role bridges the gap between simulation and real-world performance, ensuring our warfighters have the most advanced, reliable technology.
Job Description:
- Work with our senior engineering team to design, build, and maintain real-time, closed-loop HWIL simulation capabilities, including EO/IR scene generation, EO/IR scene projection, and data acquisition systems.
- Perform hands-on testing of EO/IR seekers, projectors, collimators, lenses, mirrors, calibration sensors, and optical systems.
- Develop and document test plans, procedures, and reports for acceptance testing of EO/IR systems.
- Collaborate with guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) engineers, algorithm developers, and software teams to integrate hardware and software components.
- Support HWIL missile guidance tests for various Army weapon systems.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
Required Qualifications:
- 15+ years of experience in optical engineering for EO/IR seekers and sensors including HWIL and outdoor testing.
- Familiarity with EO/IR blackbody radiometric calibration for EO/IR seekers and sensors; laser instrumentation to measure pulse width, pulse energy, pulse timing jitter; galvanometers and fast steering mirror systems.
- Detail-oriented self-starter with strong work ethic required.
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast paced environment.
Additional Requirements:
- Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Active Secret DoD Clearance or eligibility to obtain clearance.
MSRC’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) practices are grounded in federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), among others. These laws prohibit discrimination in employment based on race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, and other protected characteristics. They also prohibit preferential treatment based on any such trait. These protections apply across all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, training, and termination.
Monte Sano Research Corporation (MSRC) is a Huntsville-based Small Business specializing in providing full-spectrum defense system engineering, research, design, development, integration, test, evaluation, and planning services to the U.S. Government.
Our dominant technical core capability centers on real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop engineering with expertise in Flight Motion Simulators, Modeling and Simulation, and managing & delivering turn-key test facility installations. MSRC designs and develops complete test facility components including target simulators for Semi-Active Laser and Radio Frequency Compact Ranges. MSRC develops custom equipment for weapon system launcher and fire control integration and testing.
MSRC has extensive expertise in supporting the U.S. Department of Defense in the areas of Cost Estimating, Earned Value Management, Project Scheduling, Finance & Budget Control, and Program Management. We are proactive in strategic planning and developing customer relationships. Our business horizon is long-term. The MSRC embedded team approach is readily responsive to customer goals. Our focus is service oriented as opposed to product sales. MSRC's relationships with teammates, vendors, and competitors serve to ensure exceptional performance.
BEST PLACES TO WORK:
2019, 2021, 2025: Winner of Best Places to Work Huntsville/Madison County
2020, 2022, 2023, 2024: Contender for Best Places to Work Huntsville/Madison County
2022, 2023, 2024, 2025: Best Place for Working Parents
HIRE Vets:
2022, 2024: Platinum Award
2023: Gold Award
The MSRC motto is derived from the Monte Sano Mountain we are named after: Rock Solid.
Founded
2009
Company size
51-200 employees
Industry
Defense and Space Manufacturing
Org type
Privately Held
Headquarters
Huntsville, Alabama
Monte Sano Research Corporation (MSRC) is a Huntsville-based Small Business specializing in providing full-spectrum defense system engineering, research, design, development, integration, test, evaluation, and planning services to the U.S. Government.
Our dominant technical core capability centers on real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop engineering with expertise in Flight Motion Simulators, Modeling and Simulation, and managing & delivering turn-key test facility installations. MSRC designs and develops complete test facility components including target simulators for Semi-Active Laser and Radio Frequency Compact Ranges. MSRC develops custom equipment for weapon system launcher and fire control integration and testing.
MSRC has extensive expertise in supporting the U.S. Department of Defense in the areas of Cost Estimating, Earned Value Management, Project Scheduling, Finance & Budget Control, and Program Management. We are proactive in strategic planning and developing customer relationships. Our business horizon is long-term. The MSRC embedded team approach is readily responsive to customer goals. Our focus is service oriented as opposed to product sales. MSRC's relationships with teammates, vendors, and competitors serve to ensure exceptional performance.
BEST PLACES TO WORK:
2019, 2021, 2025: Winner of Best Places to Work Huntsville/Madison County
2020, 2022, 2023, 2024: Contender for Best Places to Work Huntsville/Madison County
2022, 2023, 2024, 2025: Best Place for Working Parents
HIRE Vets:
2022, 2024: Platinum Award
2023: Gold Award
The MSRC motto is derived from the Monte Sano Mountain we are named after: Rock Solid.
Founded
2009
Company size
51-200 employees
Industry
Defense and Space Manufacturing
Org type
Privately Held
Headquarters
Huntsville, Alabama