Distinguished Optical Instrument Engineer

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross‑fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.

As an Optical Instrument Engineer in the Electro‑Mechanical Instruments Group, you will play a leadership role in the development of Electro‑Mechanical inertial instruments for cutting‑edge guidance applications. You will work closely with a team of engineers and physicists to build next‑generation gyroscope, accelerometer, and guidance‑aiding sensor prototypes, characterize their performance, develop production roll‑out, and ultimately deliver production hardened sensors meeting some of the world's most stringent requirements.

You will also serve as a key leader in developing junior engineering staff as a mentor and technical leader in a fast‑paced, technically challenging environment.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Independently formulate hardware instrument solutions to complex, multidisciplinary problems while deeply understanding customer strategic priorities.
• Help customers shape their needs and develop hardware instrument requirements for programs solving their most challenging technical problems.
• Act as a subject matter expert in hardware instrument device development with broad knowledge across related technical disciplines.
• Lead large, technically diverse Hardware Instrument projects.
• Design experiments and experimental hardware to prove which design concepts are viable and optimal.
• Collaborate with other engineers to design and develop prototype and production hardware to meet application needs.
• Collaborate with other groups to integrate precision instruments into larger systems, delivering on performance metrics.
• Draft and present formal technical documents, reports, and testing results.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of the design, development, and application of a wide variety of instruments.
• Understanding of the processes used in the fabrication of precision instrument hardware.
• Thorough understanding of applied math and physics.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Proficient with general modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, computer‑aided design (CAD) software, finite element analysis (FEA) software, and/or other design & analysis tools relevant to the discipline.

Requires a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Applied Physics, Electrical, or Computer Engineering. A master’s or Ph.D. degree is preferred.

Requires 15+ years of experience in Hardware Instrument Engineering or related fields.

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

City:
Cambridge
State:
Massachusetts
Postal Code: 02139‑3563

US base salary range: $62,500.00 – $. The range reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations, with individual pay determined by work location and additional factors including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only and do not include bonuses or benefits.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper provides access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact