Posted 1 day ago
Secret
Unspecified
Unspecified
IT - Software
Broomfield, CO (On-Site/Office)
Optical Systems Engineer - Senior Principal II
Senior Principal Level | Broomfield, CO | Clearance Eligible
You design precision optical systems where microns matter and mission success depends on performance. Lead the architecture and delivery of advanced optical payloads supporting next-generation space missions.
A Day in the Life - What you'll do
• Design and analyze complex optical systems, including error budgeting, optical alignment strategies, and operational performance assessments
• Architect optical payloads that meet stringent mission-level performance requirements
• Perform optical performance analysis for segmented apertures and wavefront sensing and control systems
• Lead cross-disciplinary engineering teams delivering state-of-the-art subsystems and payloads
• Collaborate across enterprise teams to share best practices and institutional knowledge
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external mission partners
• Provide technical vision, mentorship, and leadership across engineering teams
• Maintain a hybrid on-site schedule (3+ days per week) with occasional local travel
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field from an accredited institution
• 10+ years of related optical engineering experience
• Experience with design and alignment of complex optical systems
• Experience performing optical performance analysis
• Experience developing and managing error budgets
• Experience working with segmented aperture systems
• Experience with wavefront sensing and control systems
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and executive stakeholders
• Ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams
• Ability to maintain a regular and predictable hybrid work schedule
• Willingness and eligibility to obtain and maintain required security clearance if program demands
Preferred Qualifications
• Master's degree in Engineering or related field
• PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline
• Experience supporting space-based optical payloads
• Experience supporting mission-level system architecture development
• Experience performing operational data analysis for deployed optical systems
• Experience working in multi-organizational engineering environments
Who is Caribou Thunder?
Caribou Thunder is a HUBZone-certified small business providing advanced technical and engineering services to the U.S. Department of War and its mission partners.
35+ states and 20+ countries. We've delivered trusted solutions for over two decades - strengthening national readiness across missions on land, undersea, in the air, and throughout LEO, MEO, GEO, and deep space.
Why Caribou Thunder? TEAM THUNDER - Mission Focused. Delivery Proven. Ready to Serve.
Employee Advocacy
Mission Proven
Global Reach
Skilled Teams
Modern Tools
Empowering Culture
Our engineers and innovators ensure capability from sea floor to space frontier - delivering on time, maintaining compliance, and performing with precision in high-consequence environments.
We specialize in Engineering Services, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Modeling & Simulation, Digital Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence - disciplines powering the nation's most complex technical missions.
Employee Advocacy + Benefits
Our people are the heart of Caribou Thunder. We invest in their growth, flexibility, and well-being - knowing their success drives ours.
Benefits include:
Premium Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
401(k) with 6% Company Match
Flexible PTO & Work Schedule
Education & Certification Reimbursement
Support for Military Leave
Work-Life Balance & Traditional Family Values
Your future, your flexibility, your well-being - we invest in you. Apply and let's connect.
Senior Principal Level | Broomfield, CO | Clearance Eligible
You design precision optical systems where microns matter and mission success depends on performance. Lead the architecture and delivery of advanced optical payloads supporting next-generation space missions.
A Day in the Life - What you'll do
• Design and analyze complex optical systems, including error budgeting, optical alignment strategies, and operational performance assessments
• Architect optical payloads that meet stringent mission-level performance requirements
• Perform optical performance analysis for segmented apertures and wavefront sensing and control systems
• Lead cross-disciplinary engineering teams delivering state-of-the-art subsystems and payloads
• Collaborate across enterprise teams to share best practices and institutional knowledge
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external mission partners
• Provide technical vision, mentorship, and leadership across engineering teams
• Maintain a hybrid on-site schedule (3+ days per week) with occasional local travel
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field from an accredited institution
• 10+ years of related optical engineering experience
• Experience with design and alignment of complex optical systems
• Experience performing optical performance analysis
• Experience developing and managing error budgets
• Experience working with segmented aperture systems
• Experience with wavefront sensing and control systems
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and executive stakeholders
• Ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams
• Ability to maintain a regular and predictable hybrid work schedule
• Willingness and eligibility to obtain and maintain required security clearance if program demands
Preferred Qualifications
• Master's degree in Engineering or related field
• PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline
• Experience supporting space-based optical payloads
• Experience supporting mission-level system architecture development
• Experience performing operational data analysis for deployed optical systems
• Experience working in multi-organizational engineering environments
Who is Caribou Thunder?
Caribou Thunder is a HUBZone-certified small business providing advanced technical and engineering services to the U.S. Department of War and its mission partners.
35+ states and 20+ countries. We've delivered trusted solutions for over two decades - strengthening national readiness across missions on land, undersea, in the air, and throughout LEO, MEO, GEO, and deep space.
Why Caribou Thunder? TEAM THUNDER - Mission Focused. Delivery Proven. Ready to Serve.
Employee Advocacy
Mission Proven
Global Reach
Skilled Teams
Modern Tools
Empowering Culture
Our engineers and innovators ensure capability from sea floor to space frontier - delivering on time, maintaining compliance, and performing with precision in high-consequence environments.
We specialize in Engineering Services, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Modeling & Simulation, Digital Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence - disciplines powering the nation's most complex technical missions.
Employee Advocacy + Benefits
Our people are the heart of Caribou Thunder. We invest in their growth, flexibility, and well-being - knowing their success drives ours.
Benefits include:
Premium Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
401(k) with 6% Company Match
Flexible PTO & Work Schedule
Education & Certification Reimbursement
Support for Military Leave
Work-Life Balance & Traditional Family Values
Your future, your flexibility, your well-being - we invest in you. Apply and let's connect.
group id: 10496462
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