Optical Engineer

About the role

As an Optical Engineer in the Gimbal team, you will be responsible for the optical performance of EO/IR imaging payloads, ensuring high image quality, detection range, and operational robustness. You will manage the product lifecycle from initial sizing and prototyping through to validation and mass production, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams including mechanical, electronics, and software.

Responsibilities

• Sizing and design of EO/IR imaging payloads, arbitrating between field of view, resolution, range, and sensor choice.
• Select lenses and sensors, or lead custom optical designs, against image quality and robustness targets.
• Design, build, and maintain optical test benches for development, validation, and production.
• Measure and validate image quality: MTF, focus, boresight, distortion, and NETD for infrared.
• Develop the camera calibration pipeline with the software and perception teams.
• Integrate optics into mechanical assemblies, covering tolerancing, athermalisation, windows, coatings, and sealing.
• Investigate optical issues across the product life cycle, from prototype to series production.
• Manage optical suppliers and support industrialization of lenses, sensors, and components.
• Run field tests to assess image quality in real operating conditions.

Required skills

• Optical engineering
• EO/IR imaging
• Camera calibration
• MTF
• NETD
• Image processing
• Tolerancing

Nice to have

• Thermal cameras

Qualifications

• Master's degree or engineering degree with a specialization in optics

About the Company

Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. The company is valued at $1.4 billion and focuses on delivering mission-critical systems to allied forces.