Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. (SBIR) is recruiting for the position of Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Systems Integration and Test Engineer. As a member of SBIR’s Systems Engineering Group, the EO/IR Systems Integration and Test Engineer’s primary responsibility will be to play a leading role in the integration and characterization of SBIR’s unique and industry-leading Infrared Scene Projector (IRSP) product line and to verify and validate its performance and compliance against our customer’s needs. The EO/IR Systems Integration and Test Engineer will also contribute to the design and analysis of those products.
Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. is a successful, fast-paced subsidiary of HEICO Corporation, (NYSE: HEI, HEI.A). For more than 60 years, HEICO has thrived by serving segments of the aerospace, defense, and electronics industries by providing innovative and cost-saving test solutions, products and services. Forbes Magazine has previously ranked HEICO as one of the 200 "Best Small Companies" and 200 "Hot Shot Stocks".
Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. designs and manufactures the most technologically advanced Electro-Optical (EO) and Infrared (IR) test instrumentation in the world. SBIR's broad line of innovative products supports the testing of military, commercial, and research sensor systems for world-wide use in laboratory, production, depot, and field test applications. SBIR’s products include cutting-edge MEMS technology, optical imaging systems, focal planes, and lasers with supporting mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software subsystems to enable them.
SBIR's high-energy, dynamic culture focuses on our team members providing quality products and services to our customers. We create highly-integrated, well-engineered, cost-effective hardware and software solutions to the EO/IR community. In doing so, SBIR has become the preferred supplier to major domestic and international manufacturers of commercial and military EO/IR sensors and systems, and our Electro-Optical Systems Integration and Test Engineer will play a leading role in continuing and growing that heritage.
$125,000/yr. - $155,000/yr. - Full-Time
Responsibilities:
- Develops and executes plans and procedures for the integration, characterization, and test of complex electro-optical test products, with a focus on the infrared scene projector product
- Develops system specifications, including verification methods and test procedures, for infrared scene projector systems
- Collects and analyzes radiometric and electrical test data; carries out troubleshooting and calibration to optimize system performance of IRSP systems
- Collaborates with customers, SBIR mechanical and electrical engineers, and systems engineering colleagues to ensure designs meet system level requirements
- Interacts directly with customers during factory acceptance testing and design reviews, and travels to customer facilities around the US and world to lead on-site system installation, integration and training
- Works with Engineering to document and implement changes made to hardware and deviations from standard procedures as necessary
- Performs concept design, analysis, and specification development to support business development/potential new customer applications
Requirements/Experience:
Required:
- BS (or equivalent degree) in electrical engineering, physics, or similar field
- 5+ years' hands-on experience in electro-optics, infrared systems, or related field. An advanced degree may count towards years of experience.
- Hands-on laboratory experience with optical systems test, optical test equipment, and optical test components for passive and/or active optical systems
- Experience with optical and electrical measurement instrumentation, such as: interferometers, infrared cameras, microscopes, multimeters, and/or oscilloscopes
- Systems engineering experience on EO/IR system hardware development efforts in one or more of the following areas: establishing, maintaining, and flowing down requirements; leading and executing trade studies; failure mode and root cause and corrective action analysis; product lifecycle support; test plan and procedure development; system test execution; test data analysis
- A solid foundation in the principles of optics, sensors, and EO/IR sensing systems
- Hardware trouble-shooting capability and analytical skills
- Experience with physical modeling, simulation, and analysis applied to electrical, optical, and/or mechanical systems, both by hand and in a programming or scripting environment
- Ability to work with colleagues and supervisor to set priorities and organize incoming projects
- Ability to communicate system requirements, testing needs, debugging information, and design concepts with other engineering disciplines
- Ability to communicate with vendors and customer teams and demonstrate system performance through leading or supporting factory and site acceptance testing
- Ability to set priorities and organize incoming projects
- Familiarity with Microsoft Windows, and a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPointAbility to travel to customer facilities (5-15%)
Preferred:
- Experience performing radiometric measurements
- Experience with vacuum systems
- Proficiency with image processing and/or image analysis software
- Experience with proper handling of ESD sensitive parts, including PCB cards
- Working knowledge of MEMS and/or photolithography fabrication processes
Due to US Export Control Regulations compliance, eligible candidates MUST be a US citizen, permanent resident or a person who has been granted asylum; proper documentation required. Pre-employment verifications: must pass background, reference and ITAR/EAR checks in addition to a pre-employment drug screen.
This position offers many benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, HSA, FSA, alternate work week schedule, LTD, life insurance and much more.
EOE
Male/Female/Veteran/Disabled
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in electrical engineering, physics, or a similar field
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in electro-optics, infrared systems, or a related field; an advanced degree may count toward experience
- Hands-on laboratory experience testing optical systems and using optical test equipment and components for passive or active optical systems
- Experience with optical and electrical measurement instrumentation, including interferometers, infrared cameras, microscopes, multimeters, or oscilloscopes
- Systems engineering experience on EO/IR hardware development, including requirements management, trade studies, failure-mode and root-cause analysis, lifecycle support, test planning, system testing, or test-data analysis
- Strong foundation in optics, sensors, and EO/IR sensing systems
- Hardware troubleshooting and analytical skills
- Experience with physical modeling, simulation, and analysis of electrical, optical, or mechanical systems using manual methods or programming/scripting
- Ability to prioritize and organize incoming projects
- Ability to communicate system requirements, testing needs, debugging information, and design concepts across engineering disciplines
- Ability to communicate with vendors and customer teams and demonstrate system performance during factory and site acceptance testing
- Familiarity with Microsoft Windows and proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Ability to travel to customer facilities 5–15% of the time
- Experience performing radiometric measurements
- Experience with vacuum systems
- Proficiency with image processing or image analysis software
- Experience handling ESD-sensitive parts, including PCB cards
- Working knowledge of MEMS or photolithography fabrication processes
- US citizenship, permanent residency, or granted asylum due to US export-control requirements
- Ability to pass background, reference, ITAR/EAR, and pre-employment drug-screen checks
HEICO Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about HEICO and has not been reviewed or approved by HEICO.
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Retirement Support — The company maintains a long‑standing 401(k) program with company matching available to nearly all U.S. employees, with matches sometimes delivered in company stock. Official materials indicate broad participation and subsidiary‑level match structures.
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Flexible Benefits — The package spans medical, dental, vision, HSAs/FSAs, life and disability coverage, PTO and holidays, tuition reimbursement, an EAP, and various discounts, with multiple plan choices. Eligibility and specifics can differ by subsidiary.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellness programs such as health fairs, screenings, flu shots, and on‑site classes appear alongside fitness, retail, and entertainment discounts. These offerings complement core coverage and support day‑to‑day wellbeing.
HEICO Insights
What We Do
HEICO Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of aerospace, defense, and electronics related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Flight Support Group (FSG/HEICO Aerospace) and Electronic Technologies Group (ETG). HEICO Aerospace offers jet engine and aircraft component replacement parts. It also involves in manufacturing specialty aircraft/defense related parts; offering thermal insulation blankets primarily for aerospace, defense, and commercial applications; subcontracting for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs); providing specialty parts as a subcontractor for aerospace and industrial OEMs, and the United States government. In addition, this segment distributes hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and electro-mechanical components for the aviation markets.
