Optical Test Engineer

Wilcox develops innovative, world class electro‑mechanical combat systems for today’s warfighters and law enforcement officers including cutting edge laser and imaging systems. The Optical Test Engineer is a pivotal part of the Wilcox engineering team and is responsible for providing test design/execution and matrixed technical support to the engineering, operations, and quality teams for all electro‑optical systems. This includes developing new processes, tests, fixtures, software, etc.

for product development, V&V, initial NPI transition to production, and extends into continuous improvement efforts for products in sustainment. This position also serves in laser safety, keeping Wilcox Industries in compliance with ANSI 136.1 – 2002.

• Leads/contributes to the identification, test, and compliance V&V of government and customer specifications for optical components/parameters of new designs.
• Supports the Engineering, Quality, and Production teams by designing, bread boarding, and performing both standard and non‑standard testing and evaluation set‑ups.
• Provides EO engineering support throughout the design, development, NPI, and sustain portions of product development including timely, detailed test reports.
• Tests components, modules, and systems for existing and developmental devices.
• Collaborates with program/product teams as well as Quality and Production to develop and document optical and laser test procedures for inspection and production lines.
• Leads/contributes to the development of prototype and production test fixtures, inspection requirements and work instructions as required.
• Performs hands‑on technical work in laboratory and field environments involving electro‑optical metrology, optical alignment, system testing, data collection and analysis.
• Supports the analysis and evaluation of design concepts to produce realistic assessments of program risks and to develop strategies for mitigation.
• Communicates the status of assigned work including current progress, estimated time to completion, risks, and any required software, tools, etc. necessary for accomplishment.
• Provides live instruction of operating laser products and instruments to team members.
• Performs laser safety calculations and evaluations of laser instruments and products.
• Performs Laser Safety Officer duties as required and ensures that all laser‑based devices and testing stations are properly identified with appropriate warning signage.
• Designs and implements laser testing stations that protect employees from accidental exposure including the identification of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for employees that work with or may be exposed to laser radiation.

• Associate’s degree in engineering discipline with 8+ years of experience or equivalent combination of 10 years education, training, and experience in EO product development.
• Experience with military standards, specifically MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461.
• Familiarity with ANSI 136.1 – 2022 and experience as a site Laser Safety Officer.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
• Ability to adapt to modern software and work methodologies, to work in a matrixed organization, and to self‑manage time between multiple projects/tasks.
• Wilcox is a U.S. government defense contractor, and this position requires access to export‑controlled technology. Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to access U.S. government‑controlled technology prior to beginning work.

• BS in Engineering/Physics and 8+ years of experience, or an equivalent combination of 12 years education, training, and experience in product development.
• Experience with optical design and analysis software (Zemax or CodeV) and MATLAB.
• Experience with Python, C/C++, or other programming languages.

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear; use hands and fingers to handle and touch objects, tools, or controls to work in a production environment. Vision abilities required include close vision,…