Optical Imaging Engineer Full Time Jobs in Tennessee

Job Title:                                     ID&C Imaging System Engineer

Location:                                      Arnold Air Force, TN

Function/Branch:                        Engineering/Instrumentation, Data & Controls

Directorate:                                 Mission Information Services

Position Type:                             Regular, Full Time

Pay Type:                                     Exempt

Sponsorship:                               Position Not Sponsored

Grade:                                          L08 (OA0816) – L09 (OA0916)

Salary Range:                              L08: $109,000 - $149,000 / year

                                                   L09: $ 128,500 - $176,000 / year

Overview

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for an ID&C Imaging System Engineer supporting the Test and Operations Sustainment (TOS) II contract at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. In this role, you will lead and support the design, installation, integration, calibration, and maintenance of advanced, high-speed optical and infrared imaging systems. These diagnostic assets are critical for capturing and analyzing transient test events, including hypersonic flows, arc heater thermal testing, pressure sensitive paint, and other test surveillance videos.

You will also work closely with other Test Operations Engineers, Design and Systems Engineers, and Project Managers to deliver high-fidelity diagnostic data from unique national test assets.

Open to internal and external candidates. The selected candidate for this requisition may be required to occasionally work outside normal business hours.

Job Summary

The successful candidate will apply programming, design, configuration management, and testing skills to develop complex systems and applications to perform the above functions, while assisting in system/application deployment, installation, maintenance, and support.

Job Duties:

An Imaging System Engineer at AEDC is critical to the execution of the test mission.  Specifically, duties for this mid-career position include:

• Sustain and Optimize Imaging Systems: Manage, maintain, calibrate, and upgrade ultra-high-speed digital imaging cameras, optical diagnostics, and high-speed infrared (IR) cameras used in harsh and aerothermal test environments.
• Direct Diagnostic Setup and Execution: Lead the physical setup, precise optical alignment, laser safety coordination, and camera synchronization (at rates up to and exceeding 10,000 frames per second) to record transient arc heater arc-root movements, plasma jets, flow interactions, etc.
• Design Specialized Optical Paths: Develop and integrate advanced optical configurations including Schlieren systems, pressure sensitive paint, multispectral setups, and test surveillance video.
• Manage Large Datasets: Coordinate the ingestion, analysis, reduction, and archiving of high-bandwidth scientific video datasets. Use specialized image processing software to extract quantitative engineering metrics from qualitative visual recordings.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work closely with the ID&C Branch, test operations teams, facility engineers, and government representatives to gather requirements, estimate task costs, and build execution schedules for diagnostic projects.
• Sustain Safety: Enforce rigorous safety protocols, particularly relating to Class 3/4 laser systems, high-voltage equipment, and industrial test environments.
• Author Documentation: Draft detailed technical reports, standard operating procedures, electrical schematics, and equipment checklists to institutionalize system knowledge and satisfy contractual deliverables.
• Support Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to upgrade diagnostic capabilities, automate image analysis pipelines, and reduce test cycle setup times.
• It is a condition of employment to wear company-issued Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Optical Engineering, Physics, or another closely related engineering or scientific discipline from an accredited college or university.
• L08: A minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in design, development, and operation of high-speed optical diagnostic systems in an industrial, academic research, or aerospace test environment.
• L09: A minimum of 8 years of progressive work experience with demonstrated technical leadership in high-speed optical engineering, instrumentation design, and cross-functional team project management.
• Current US Citizenship required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance and access to the local AEDC network.

Preferred Qualifications

• High-Speed Videography Expertise: In-depth, hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting specialized high-speed scientific cameras (e.g., Phantom, Photron) and high-power illumination systems (laser, LED, xenon strobe).
• Optical Diagnostic Techniques: Strong technical knowledge of experimental aerothermodynamics flow visualization (Schlieren systems), pressure sensitive paint, and multispectral setups.
• Infrared Thermography: Experience using and calibrating radiometric infrared thermal cameras to extract high-temperature surfaces and plasma characteristics.
• Programming & Image Processing: Proficiency using MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, or C/C++ to write automated scripts for image filtering, edge detection, and statistical tracking.
• Data Acquisition Integration: Experience integrating imaging triggers and camera synchronization signals with larger facility control systems and data acquisition systems.
• Environmental Resilience: Familiarity with protecting sensitive optical equipment from harsh vibrations, thermal loads, magnetic fields, and dust using environmental enclosures or purge systems.
• Active DoD Security Clearance

What We Offer

• Competitive salaries
• Continuing education assistance
• Multiple healthcare benefits packages
• 401K with employer matching
• Paid time off (PTO) along with a federally recognized holiday schedule

Who We Are

Beyond New Horizons (BNH) is a fully populated joint venture of Astrion and Fluor Federal Services, Inc. formed to provide unmatched Test Operations and Sustainment services for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex.

 We chose our name to serve as an enduring reminder of our commitment to AEDC’s rich aerospace research and development legacy anchored in AEDC’s Toward New Horizons founding study and the unprecedented opportunities to greatly expand AEDC’s capabilities and capacity Beyond those existing today. Leveraging the capabilities of our parent companies, BNH specializes in testing and evaluation for military and space systems combined with proven capability in large-scale Government program management, integration, engineering, and construction services for specialized and technically advanced high-hazard facilities.

Join our Team!

U.S. Citizenship is required. At this time BNH will not sponsor any applicants for employment authorization or offer any immigration related support for this position (i.e. H1b, F1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, E-2, E-3, L-1, or other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations and refers to the amount BNH is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time jobs will be adjusted based upon the number of hours agreed to work at the Tennessee location.

L08: $109,000 - $149,000 / year; L09: $ 128,500 - $176,000 / year at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. 

BNH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, and any other grounds for discrimination prohibited by applicable law.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.