Electro-Optic and Infrared (EO/IR) Systems Engineer

About this role

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see  Notice to Out of State Applicants .

​     POSITION SPECIFICS ​ We are seeking a Principal Electro-Optic and Infrared (EO/IR) Systems Engineer to join our Sensors, Signals, and Software Department in the Electro-Optics and Electronics division located in Freeport PA. This department supports DoD acquisitions through electro-optics, electronics, and software trade space definition, exploration, and reduction to inform next generation DoD architectures and capabilities. This spans research in the form of modeling, extensive prototyping, and both functional and environmental test.

You Will: • Take on challenges where the path the research may take is not clear, and the outcome is not known or guaranteed

• Be part of the team leadership that operates in this ambiguous space and develops the executable plan for the rest of the team

• Perform physics-based modeling to predict the performance of imaging system concepts and designs, such as through the use of the Night Vision Integrated Performance Model (NV-IPM) and MODTRAN.  Execution of these analyses are supported by a deep understanding of the underlying environmental, atmospheric, optics, imager, and human components that the model represents

• Experience within an organization responsible for manufacturing EO/IR systems

• Drive system level trade studies to develop architectures and allocate system level requirements across subsystems and engineering disciplines

• Be heavily involved in camera selection and evaluation covering the full spectrum of visible, shortwave (SWIR), midwave (MWIR), and longwave (LWIR) infrared

• Lead a team on all aspects of system test (lab, environmental, and field testing) including authoring test plans, identification of the appropriate test equipment, and execution of the tests themselves

• Leverage prior first-hand experience with building and testing imaging systems to help the team avoid the traditional pitfalls in imaging designs and instead focus that energy towards the high-risk research components

• Routinely interface with sponsors, customers, and end-users to understand their problems, brainstorm solutions, scope research, communicate the technical aspects of research execution, and convey the significance of results.

• Track the latest developments in imaging cameras, physics-based modeling, and imaging improvement / enhancement techniques and advise on how and when to integrate them into on-going and future research opportunities

• Devise, plan, and lead projects solving extremely complex problems that impact the design success of current products or address broad design issues of future products or technologies

• Coordinate research and development activities between disciplines involving exploration of subject area, definition of scope and selection of problems for investigation, and development of novel concepts and approaches

• Plan and direct research projects that have substantial impact that extends knowledge and understanding; plan, organize, mentor and advise the work of staff scientists, engineers and technicians

• Provide input to the strategic direction of the division’s research pursuits by helping to establish the appropriate core competencies and evaluating where our capabilities best align with a sponsor’s needs

• Perform project planning, budgeting, and scheduling

• Manage vendors and suppliers, from purchase orders through statements of work

• Lead other engineers in day-to-day tasking to satisfy stakeholder’s requirements and expectations

• Provide technical leadership within the department for imaging and EO/IR programs and initiatives

• Independently manage multiple and/or large electro-optic projects

• Develop and propose solutions for new applications

• Perform the role of Trusted Agent to the government to assess and validate state-of-the art imaging systems and solutions from the Defense Industrial Base

• Propose and lead new initiatives, guide programs of national or international significance, identify future problems, research trends and opportunities, and direct and/or participate in major proposal preparation and presentation

Required skills and experience include: • Past success with the design, analysis, procurement, assembly and test of complete electro-optic and infrared (EO/IR) imaging systems for military applications

• Infrared imaging system experience is a must

• Radiometry (analysis and laboratory measurements), development of link budgets, prediction of sensor response, and image quality metrics

• Software tools for instrument control, data analysis, and image processing (LabVIEW, MATLAB, ImageJ, Python, Open CV, etc.)

• Real-time image processing

• Laser Range Finders, LiDAR, and other laser systems

• Specification and use of optical components such as dichroic filters, polarizers, beam splitters, lasers, fast steering mirrors, and shutters

• Proficient in a discipline core to the design and development of imaging systems prior to transitioning to a system role

• Operating as a systems engineer for imaging systems

• Knowledge of various focal plane arrays types, imaging sensors, camera specifications, and video interfaces

• Past success with visible and infrared imaging system desig

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