You will be the Electro‑Optical Engineer leading a technical team that develops state‑of‑the‑art IR sensors for Lockheed Martin. Our team creates next‑generation EO/IR focal‑plane and camera concepts, delivers high‑performance sensor systems to U.S. and allied customers, and supports both new product development and existing contract work.
What You Will Be Doing
As the Electro‑Optical Engineer you will act as the primary technical liaison to external customers, drive system analysis and modeling, and provide hands‑on leadership for mechanical, electrical, and optical design efforts. You’ll own schedule, budget, and earned‑value tracking while mentoring engineers and resolving technical issues. Your responsibilities will include:
- Representing Lockheed Martin in customer meetings, delivering clear presentations, and maintaining strong internal‑external relationships.
- Shaping future EO/IR product roadmaps and executing support for current development contracts.
- Performing EO/IR analysis and modeling of focal‑plane and camera performance to verify that designs meet system requirements.
- Acting as project engineer/technical lead: planning tasks, monitoring progress, and tracking schedules, budgets, and earned‑value metrics.
- Supervising and directing engineers in mechanical, electrical, and optical design and trade‑study activities.
- Leading system debugging, troubleshooting, and providing technical direction when failures occur.
- Coordinating cross‑functional reviews, design‑baseline updates, and configuration control.
- Conducting risk assessments, failure‑mode analyses, and recommending mitigation strategies.
- Mentoring junior team members and fostering an inclusive, collaborative work environment.
Why Join Us
Do you want to be part of a company culture that empowers employees to think big, lead with a growth mindset, and make the impossible a reality? We provide the resources and give you the flexibility to enable inspiration and focus. If you have the passion and courage to dream big, work hard, and have fun doing what you love then we want to build a better tomorrow with you.
We offer flexible work schedules to comprehensive benefits investing in your future and security. Learn more about Lockheed Martin’s comprehensive benefits package here.
Further Information About This Opportunity:
This position is in Santa Barbara.
MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN - This position is located at a facility that requires special access. The selected candidate must be able to obtain a secret clearance.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in an engineering, mathematics, or science field
Systems engineering background
Excellent presentation and written communications skills
Strong customer coordination experience
Experience leading complex design trade studies
Ability to lead technical teams to meet cost, schedule, and performance goals.
Experience in infrared sensor technologies or adjacent technologies
Transition of high technology product from Development to Production
Ability to obtain a secret security clearance, must be a US Citizen.
Master’s degree or PhD from an accredited college in related discipline
Detector material design and trades
Readout circuitry design
MATLAB programming expertise
Expert in large dataset computation
Radiometric Testing & IR System Analysis
Camera electronics and equipment
Troubleshooting and failure analysis of sophisticated hardware.
Closed cycle cryogenic systems
Vacuum packaging
FPA manufacturing technologies experience
Experience with Systems Engineering and MBSE
CAMEO and DOORS expertise
Reliability engineering
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $166900.00 - $309900.00
At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.
The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.
- Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
- For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in engineering, mathematics, or science
- Systems engineering background
- Excellent presentation and written communication skills
- Strong customer coordination experience
- Experience leading complex design trade studies
- Ability to lead technical teams to meet cost, schedule, and performance goals
- Experience in infrared sensor technologies or adjacent technologies
- Experience transitioning high-technology products from development to production
- Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance
- U.S. citizenship
- Master's degree or PhD in a related discipline
- Detector material design and trades experience
- Readout circuitry design experience
- MATLAB programming expertise
- Expertise in large-dataset computation
- Radiometric testing and infrared system analysis experience
- Camera electronics and equipment experience
- Troubleshooting and failure analysis of sophisticated hardware
- Closed-cycle cryogenic systems experience
- Vacuum packaging experience
- Focal-plane array manufacturing technologies experience
- Systems engineering and MBSE experience
- CAMEO and DOORS expertise
- Reliability engineering experience
Lockheed Martin Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Lockheed Martin and has not been reviewed or approved by Lockheed Martin.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are described as a standout element, with a strong 401(k) program and options like an employee stock purchase plan. Feedback suggests these features meaningfully enhance total compensation and long‑term financial security.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is portrayed as comprehensive from day one, with multiple plan options, mental health resources, and virtual care. Wellness supports such as on‑site services and preventive programs are also highlighted.
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Flexible Benefits — Work arrangements often include compressed schedules and telework, contributing to a favorable work‑life balance. Feedback suggests this flexibility is a key reason many view the overall package positively.
Lockheed Martin Insights
What We Do
Customer Focus, Innovation and Purpose are Built Into Everything We Do. Lockheed Martin. Your Mission is Ours ™. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
