Remote Optical Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Job ID: 2611519

Location: Chantilly, VA, US

Date Posted: 2026-04-21

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI_wPoly

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

• Identify, assess, and implement technical and programmatic needs necessary to execute the government lead's mission objectives across optical technology domains
• Develop technical strategies, analyses, recommendations, and technology roadmaps for advanced EO/IR sensor development
• Anticipate program challenges and independently develop solutions that align with mission goals and stakeholder requirements
• Requires self-initiated and proactive planning in support of GPOC objectives and direction

• Directly support the government program manager throughout the research and development lifecycle for EO/IR remote sensing projects, including:
  • Programmatic and technical support to customer leaders and staff as part of a SETA team
• Administrative support for the program office including budget profiles, tracking, spend planning, and financial analysis
• Authoring papers and briefings for internal and external audiences to address organizational business processes and information requirements
• Requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Support project acquisition planning and execution, including:
  • Drafting acquisition documents (e.g., Broad Agency Announcements, Requests for Proposal, Statements of Work, specifications, Contract Data Requirements Lists)
• Supporting source selection activities (e.g. technical evaluations, proposal assessments)
• Assisting the IC customer with acquisition and oversight of technology development contracts
• Developing briefings for government acquisition processes and strong writing skills
• Requires understanding of government acquisition processes and strong writing skills
   

• Provide technical oversight to ensure program success, including:
  • Reviewing contractor engineering documents and procedures, requirements flowdown, verification methodologies, calibration plans, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and test plans
• Participating in design reviews to uphold the customer's interests
• Identifying and assessing project or program technical and programmatic risks
• Requires systems-level thinking and ability to critically evaluate technical approaches
   

• Develop and deliver briefings and documentation for diverse audiences, including:
  • Office-level reviews (technical performance, spend planning, budget requests)
• Enterprise review boards and inter-agency working groups
• Departmental or Congressional inquiries
• Actively participate in intra- and inter- agency forums
• Collaborate with outside organizations such as other government agencies, laboratories, and universities
• Requires excellent communications skills and ability to build trusted relationships across organizational boundaries

• Advance technology awareness and transition planning through:
  • Surveying and documenting state-of-the-art technologies in EO/IR sensing domains
• Participating in or monitoring execution of studies or surveys by outside organizations
• Supporting project closeout and transition execution to system program offices for flight development
• Requires intellectual curiosity and commitment to staying current with emerging technologies.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with Poly.
• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline with 9+ years related experience, -or- Master’s degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline 7+ years related experience.
• Knowledge of the data processing chain for electro-optical (EO) remote sensing systems (aka tasking, collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination) is a discriminator but not required.
• Project management experience for research and development activities.
• Prepared to learn the mission including radiation effects on space-based EO components to the point you will be able to participate in technical discussions.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic and energetic environment.
• Good working knowledge of MS Office applications.
• Effective interpersonal skills and strong briefing and writing skills.
• Familiarity with defense and intelligence acquisition, budget planning and contracting