Chief EO/IR Architect {D}

ARKA Group L.P. (“ARKA”) is an advanced technologies company serving the U.S. military, intelligence community, and commercial space industry delivering next-generation solutions to support the national security space enterprise. Built on more than six decades of excellence, ARKA brings modern approaches and a culture of innovation to the challenges of today.

Join the ARKA team to learn how Beyond Begins Here. Discover your next career opportunity now!

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Position Overview:

As the Chief EO/IR Engineer, you will be involved in all phases of system development, from pre-proposal activities through final design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, verification, and delivery, providing technical direction and leadership to integrated product teams of varying sizes.

Responsibilities:

There are no direct reports to this position; however, you will be responsible for the oversight and direction of project-specific teams of engineers executing design development of EO/IR systems.  Specific responsibilities will include:

• Evaluation and shaping of customer requirements, assisting business development in defining the opportunity spaces in which future contracts lie.
• Development of the top-level system architecture of mission solutions, including optical and electronic design requirements, on-board processing requirements, platform interfaces, and CONOPS.
• Defining, executing, and overseeing system design trades.
• Interfacing with customers throughout the product life cycle as the lead technical representative of the product development team.
• Leading program teams, including other engineering disciplines and interfacing with program management, to develop optical system design concepts and decompose and flow down system requirements to lower-level assemblies and components.
• Preparing and presenting of material for formal design reviews and customer meetings.
• Defining and leading internal IR&D projects.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years of relevant work experience OR 10 years of relevant work experience with Master’s degree.
• Decomposition of complex systems into logical building blocks and the ability to develop the requisite error budgets and requirements traceability
• Evaluation and definition of the optical, mechanical, electrical, and environmental inputs into an EO/IR system and their influence on overall requirements compliance
• Program planning including scope definition, resourcing, and budgeting
• Proficient technical writing skills including proposal content, requirements specifications, verification matrices, verification plans, and verification reports
• CONOPS development
• Technical leadership of cross-functional/discipline teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in architecting and/or developing imaging system solutions for spaceborne missions.
• Knowledge of EO industry technical capabilities (e.g., focal planes, electronics) for space systems, supporting architecting of EO payloads.
• Familiarity with mission level performance requirements including: NIIRS (image quality), Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Minimum Detectable Target and/or geolocation.
• Familiarity with mission level phenomenology including Solar illuminated signal and thermal emission of objects and background/clutter and appropriate selection of spectral bands.

Pay Range: $210,000 - $260,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Locations: Danbury, CT, Valley Forge, PA, Ypsilanti, MI, or Aurora, CO.

The location preference for this position is onsite at our facility in Danbury, CT. However, we would give consideration to work locations in Valley Forge, PA., Ypsilanti, MI, or Aurora, CO. Danbury, CT is located in beautiful Fairfield County, Danbury offers a diverse economy, wonderful parks, cultural attractions, an impressive mix of private and public educational institutions and a vibrant arts scene. Our facility is nestled among a remarkable selection of communities to call home all with varying price points to fit many different budgets. We’re close to New York City, Boston, and other major cities – great for day trips and weekend getaways. Our lovely seasons along with award-winning institutions, colleges, cultural events, and a genuine sense of community brings a diverse population to the beautiful state of Connecticut!

What We Offer: 

• Comprehensive medical/vision/dental insurance packages
• Company contributions to qualified HSA accounts
• 401k retirement plan with industry leading company contributions
• 3 weeks of vacation accrual per year plus time off for sick leave and unscheduled life events
• 13 paid holidays
• Upfront tuition assistance for approved degree programs
• Annual bonus program based on company and employee performance
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• 4 weeks paid Parental Leave
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

EHS/Environmental Requirements:

This job operates in a professional office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to use hands to keyboard, communicate, listen to, and interpret instructions and remain stationary for extended periods of the time. This would require the ability to move around the campus and occasionally move/lift items weighing up to 25 lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Applicants are invited to apply for a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job. To apply, send a request to [email protected] or contact 203-797-5000 and press 2 for Human Resources.

ITC & Security Clearance Requirements:

Due to contract requirements, U.S. citizenship is required. Additionally, if you are a dual citizen (a citizen of the US and another country), the Company must obtain approval for you to have access to the information required for this position. You will not be able to begin employment until such approval is obtained and this may take several months.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance. The form contained in this link will provide insight into the information the government requests as part of the clearance process. https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf86.pdf.

Visa Restrictions: 

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Pre-employment Screenings: 

Employment with any ARKA companies in the U.S. is contingent upon satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements to include a credit check, background check, and drug screen.