1

Junior Optical Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Collaborate daily with mechanical, electrical, software, optical, and RF engineers to resolve ... Mentor junior engineers in systems engineering principles, tools, and best practices. * Champion ...

Lead Systems Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

$128 - $195/hr

Collaborate daily with mechanical, electrical, software, optical, and RF engineers to resolve ... Mentor junior engineers in systems engineering principles, tools, and best practices. * Champion ...

New

Senior Automation and Controls Engineer

Fairfax, VA · Hybrid

$106K - $139K/yr

... Optic Ethernet connections to HMI/SCADA equipment, PLCs, power monitors, VFDs, networked field ... Leading teams of more junior staff and provides direction and mentoring. Reviewing the work of ...

Senior Automation and Controls Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$106K - $139K/yr

The successful candidate will be enthusiastic about building client relationships, mentoring junior ... Optic Ethernet connections to HMI/SCADA equipment, PLCs, power monitors, VFDs, networked field ...

Knowledge of Electro-Optical and SAR payloads and their Concept of Operations (CONOPs) * Testing ... more junior personnel * Organization and Communication : Demonstrated ability to effectively ...

Knowledge of Electro-Optical and SAR payloads and their Concept of Operations (CONOPs) * Testing ... more junior personnel * Organization and Communication : Demonstrated ability to effectively ...

Who You Are You are an Jr. Signal Processing Engineer who will collaborate with multiple ... Learn and develop a thorough understanding of MATLAB code/scripts used to model electro-optical ...

Showing results 41-60

Junior Optical Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$37.9K

$81.3K

$124K

How much do junior optical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior optical engineer in Washington is $81,320.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,900.00 and $90,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a junior optical engineer?

A Junior Optical Engineer is an entry-level engineering professional specializing in optical systems, components, and technologies. They assist in designing, testing, and optimizing optical devices such as lenses, lasers, and imaging systems. Their responsibilities may include conducting experiments, analyzing data, and supporting senior engineers in research and development. Strong analytical skills, knowledge of optics principles, and proficiency with simulation tools are often required. This role provides foundational experience for growing into more advanced optical engineering positions.

What does a junior optical engineer do?

As a Junior Optical Engineer, you may assist in designing, testing, and evaluating optical systems such as lenses, imaging devices, or sensors under the supervision of senior engineers. Your responsibilities often include running simulations, performing hands-on experiments in the lab, analyzing data, and contributing to technical reports. You’ll also collaborate closely with colleagues in mechanical and electrical engineering to integrate optical components into larger systems. This role often provides opportunities to learn from mentors and gain hands-on experience with real-world applications, which is valuable for long-term career growth in the optical engineering field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a junior optical engineer?

To thrive as a Junior Optical Engineer, you need a solid background in optics, physics, and mathematics, often supported by a bachelor's degree in optical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with optical design software (such as Zemax or CODE V), basic laboratory equipment, and CAD tools is commonly expected. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you work efficiently within engineering teams and present findings clearly. These skills ensure precise design, troubleshooting, and collaborative project development in this technically demanding role.

What are the most commonly searched types of Optical Engineer jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Optical Engineer jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Junior Optical Engineer jobs in Washington?

For Junior Optical Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Junior Optical Engineer jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Junior Optical Engineer jobs in Washington are:

Infographic showing various Junior Optical Engineer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 77% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 19% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,320 per year, or $39.1 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 368 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

67th of 545 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SCITRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman's Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer Level 3 or Level 4 located in Dulles, VA, you'll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one.

The qualified candidate will support a program within the Space Superiority Sector, with a focus on Electro-Optical (EO) / Laser Systems.

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

Your mission, should you choose to accept:

  • Demonstrate technical understanding in the field of EO/Laser Systems and Sensors.
  • Development, analysis, maturation and implementation of EO / Laser System requirements in both hardware and software
  • Work with a mission engineering team to translate Customer needs into lower-level EO / Laser requirements that meet the mission
  • Modeling/Developing / analyzing sensor performance, predicting performance
  • Ensure performance capabilities of new systems traded against cost and mission requirements and assess operational effectiveness of existing and emerging systems and capabilities in representative operational environments.
  • Manage aspects of system design, analysis, verification, testing, and failure/anomaly resolution
  • Manage various subcontractors through system development, implementation, and test with a focus on mission-level requirements.
  • Effectively communicate technical approaches and findings to audiences of various technical backgrounds

If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team!

This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.

This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.

Basic Qualifications for Level 3:

  • Bachelor's degree with 5 years of professional experience or Master's degree with 3 years of professional experience or PhD with 1 year of professional experience
  • Requires an active Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time
  • Demonstrated experience with EO, Laser or other optical systems
  • Experience with EOIR sensor component design and performance analysis
  • Knowledge of system engineering design methods, including requirements analysis and flow-down, specification derivation and interface control documentation.

Basic Qualifications for Level 4:

  • Bachelor's degree with 8 years of professional experience or Master's degree with 6 years of professional experience or PhD with 4 years of professional experience
  • Requires an active Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time
  • Demonstrated experience with EO, Laser or other optical systems
  • Experience with EOIR sensor component design and performance analysis
  • Knowledge of system engineering design methods, including requirements analysis and flow-down, specification derivation and interface control documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated experience with EO, Laser or other optical systems for airborne or space platforms
  • Work experience in one of the following areas related to EOIR and/or laser systems: laser communication, lasers, LiDAR, sensing, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic protection, ID, or adaptive technique
  • Work experience with build, integration, test, and verification approaches for EOIR systems
  • Capable of mentoring and teaching peers and junior engineers on EOIR systems design and performance behaviors
  • An understanding of the physical limitations to implementing complex algorithms in real hardware
  • Experience working with free-space optics and characterizing optical/laser systems
  • Understanding of optical metrology to measure parameters such as laser power, wavelength, pulse width, divergence and beam quality
  • Experience collaborating with and presenting to external partners such as customers and other contractors
  • Background in Electrical Engineering
  • Experience and expertise in Photonics

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

#SpaceEngJobs
#SpaceSysEngJobs

#NoVASpace

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

What Northrop Grumman employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Northrop Grumman logo

About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939