Optical Test Engineer

CHANTILLY, VA, US • Posted 30+ days ago • Updated 1 hour ago

Full Time

On-site

SAIC

Fitment

Dice Job Match Score™

⭐ Evaluating experience...

Job Details

Skills

Integrated Circuit
IC
Internal Communications
SPO
Satellite
Modeling
Organizational Skills
Communication
Management
Interfaces
Test Plans
Leadership
Physics
Optics
Science
Testing
Supervision
Effective Communication
Collaboration
Customer Engagement
Acquisition
Security Clearance
Embedded Systems
DoD
Information Technology
Systems Engineering
FOCUS

Summary

Job ID: 2600219

Location: CHANTILLY, VA, US

Date Posted: 2026-01-09

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: No

Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: No

Description

SAIC is seeking a mid-level Optical Test Engineer with NRO experience to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) services to a rapidly expanding Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer for a complex space and ground efforts as part of an exciting and innovative set of programs. This position supports a System Program Office (SPO) in a technical capacity for planning, execution, monitoring, and oversight of satellite system development and acquisitions that advance the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) space resiliency posture.

The optical test engineer should have technical and practical understanding of electro-optical and laser phenomenology and architectures to support advanced technology development programs of national significance to promote resilience to a diverse area of global threats. The Engineer will focus on mitigation technologies. The position will be responsible for understanding the current and future laser threats to space vehicles; modeling laser engagements; gathering, organizing, and understanding previous laser testing relevant to space vehicles; and be able to validate models against test results. The engineer must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and will work directly with the Government COTRs and with mission partners to coordinate and oversee testing campaigns, organize data, and develop mitigation techniques and technologies.

The optical test engineer will join a team of on-site SETAs working advanced technologies to enhance resiliency and survivability of space systems with responsibilities that may include but not limited to the following:

Support government on acquisition, source selection, and programmatic processes.
Support Contract Officer/Contract Officer Technical Representatives (CO/COTRs) and Developers by coordinating with other technical domain Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and program stakeholders to achieve a detailed understanding of the systems, designs, and interfaces necessary to satisfy requirements.
Support COTR with test planning and execution activities and briefing results to leadership.
Participating in technical interchange meetings between developers and COTR.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Must possess an active TS/SCI clearance with Counter-Intelligence polygraph.
Bachelor's degree in physics, engineering, or other discipline related to optics or imaging science and 7 years or more relevant experience; or Masters or PhD in physics, engineering, or science discipline with focus on optics or imaging science and 5 years or more relevant experience.
Knowledge of how optical systems are designed, developed, manufactured, and tested.
Experience testing in Government laboratories.
Ability to communicate very technical subjects to a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of technical expertise.
Self-starter with the ability to recognize requirements based on the organization's mission and vision and perform necessary work with minimal supervision.
Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
Strong written and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and team environment.

Desired Qualifications:

Proven technical background in optical systems and space acquisition.
Current NRO-adjudicated clearance and polygraph.
5 or more years of related experience in a SETA or embedded integrator role.
Experience with the Intelligence Community and/or the Department of Defense.

Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.

Dice Id: 10111346
Position Id: 2600219
Posted 30+ days ago

Company Info

About SAIC

SAIC® is a premier Fortune 500 mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets include secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.

We are approximately 24,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.

Go to company profile

Create job alert

Never miss an opportunity! Create an alert based on the job you applied for.

Similar Jobs

Modeling & Simulation Systems Engineer

Chantilly, Virginia

•

Today

Job ID: 2601916 Location: CHANTILLY, VA, US Date Posted: 2026-03-02 Category: Engineering and Sciences Subcategory: Systems Engineer Schedule: Full-time Shift: Day Job Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None Potential for Remote Work: No Description SAIC has an opportunity for a Modeling and Simulation Systems Engineer in Chantilly, VA to provide systems engineering advisory expertise to the NRO GEOINT Sys

Full-time

Communications Systems Engineer and Technical Advisor (SETA)

Chantilly, Virginia

•

Today

Job ID: 2601902 Location: CHANTILLY, VA, US Date Posted: 2026-03-01 Category: Engineering and Sciences Subcategory: Systems Engineer Schedule: Full-time Shift: Day Job Travel: No Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None Potential for Remote Work: No Description SAIC is seeking a Communications Systems Engineer and Technical Advisor (SETA) to join our team. SAIC SETA provide specialized analysis, engineering, design, and operations suppo

Full-time

Satellite Ground Systems Engineer

Washington, District of Columbia

•

Today

Job ID: 2602033 Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US Date Posted: 2026-03-03 Category: Engineering and Sciences Subcategory: Systems Engineer Schedule: Full-time Shift: Day Job Travel: No Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI with Poly Potential for Remote Work: No Description SAIC is seeking an experienced Satellite Systems engineer who will be responsible for providing subject matter expertise in all aspects of Space Vehicle and Ground S

Full-time

USD 200,001.00 - 240,000.00 per year

Infrared Systems Engineer

Chantilly, Virginia

•

Today

Job ID: 2602035 Location: CHANTILLY, VA, US Date Posted: 2026-03-03 Category: Engineering and Sciences Subcategory: Systems Engineer Schedule: Full-time Shift: Day Job Travel: No Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI with Poly Potential for Remote Work: No Description SAIC seeks a mid-career to senior-level engineer with an infrared (IR) engineering background to serve as an integral member of a government/contractor team. As an In

Full-time

Search all similar jobs