Principal Optical Engineer

Leonardo are currently looking for a Principal Optical Engineer to support the research, design and development of next generation InfraRed (IR) Products.

The role will involve working with multi-discipline project teams and our Customers across the UK.

What you’ll do as a Principal Optical Engineer:

• Deliver support to the research, design, development and manufacture phases of the product lifecycle.
• Contribute to system architecture definition, specifies and develops lens design.
• Undertake analyses and performance simulations for Optical solutions.
• Support integration and Test of Optical Systems.
• Deliver solutions that consider Design for Manufacture, Assembly and Test.
• Liaise with the customer community and have regular interactions with the external supply chain.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary IPT.

This is a hybrid role, based from our Basildon site. The location of working; on-site or home based, will be determined by Project and Security classification

Primary Location: Basildon,

Working Pattern:  5 days a week (37 hours standard work week, overtime if approved by project and employee). Frequency of on-site working to be agreed with Project Team(s).

Must have skills

• Design of optical solutions within harsh environments i.e. high/low temperature, abrasive environments (rain, hail), etc.
• Experience of lens systems design within the Infrared spectrum.
• Extensive experience in an Optical Engineering related field, with a good grounding in classical imaging optics principles is required.
• Modelling/designing lens solutions using industry standard tools (preferably OpticStudio / Zemax).
• Proven knowledge within optical materials and optical coatings for IR Systems.

Nice to have skills

• An appreciation of (dynamic) Mechanical and Electrical designs associated with EO systems.
• Experience in steered IR imaging systems.
• Experience in the design and implementation of passive and/or active athermalisation IR imaging lenses.
• Modelling & Simulation utilising industry standard tool (preferably Mathworks).
• Practical optical laboratory skills.
• Practical optical Manufacturing, Assembly and Testing experience.