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 to ensure image quality, detection range, and operational robustness. You will manage the product lifecycle from sizing and prototyping through to validation and mass production, collaborating 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
• Optical test benches

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.