Sr. EO​/IR Systems Engineer

Overview

Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. (SBIR) is recruiting for the position of Senior Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Systems Engineer. As a member of SBIR's Systems Engineering Group and reporting to SBIR's CTO, the Senior EO/IR Systems Engineer's primary responsibility will be to define, design, and analyze electro-optical test systems as part of SBIR's core product development (Infrared Scene Projectors, Standard Commercial Products, and Integrated Electro-Optical Test Systems).

The Senior EO/IR Systems Engineer will also support product integration, characterization, and verification and validation.

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".

SBIR designs and manufactures the world’s most technologically advanced electro‑optical (EO) and infrared (IR) test instrumentation. Its product line supports the testing of military, commercial, and research sensor systems worldwide in laboratory, production, depot, and field-test applications. Products include cutting‑edge MEMS technology, optical imaging systems, focal planes, and lasers, plus supporting mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software subsystems.

SBIR’s high‑energy, dynamic culture focuses on team members delivering quality products and services to customers. The company creates highly‑integrated, well‑engineered, cost‑effective hardware and software solutions for the EO/IR community, becoming the preferred supplier to major domestic and international manufacturers of commercial and military EO/IR sensors and systems.

Salary: $170,000/yr – $195,000/yr (DOE)

Full‑time, Monday–Friday

• BS/BA in physics, engineering, or other relevant technical degree.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in electro‑optics, infrared systems, or a related field (advanced degree may count toward years of experience).
• Solid foundation in optics, sensors, and EO/IR sensing systems for ground, air, or space applications.
• Experience with physical modeling, simulation, and analysis.
• Systems engineering experience on EO/IR hardware development, including requirement flow‑down, trade studies, failure‑mode/root‑cause analysis, lifecycle support, and test‑plan & procedure development.
• Laboratory experience with optical test equipment and components for active and/or passive optical systems.
• Experience developing optical error budgets.
• Ability to set priorities and organize incoming projects.
• Strong communication of system requirements, testing needs, debug information, and design concepts with other engineering disciplines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to communicate with vendors and customer teams and demonstrate system performance through factory and site acceptance testing.
• Availability to travel to customer facilities 5–15% of the time.

• Advanced degree in physics, engineering, or other relevant technical field.
• Technical leadership experience, including project planning, mentorship, and roadmap development.
• Expertise in opto‑mechanical design, STOP analysis, and tolerancing.
• Experience with EO/IR technology, imaging, radiometry, and calibration techniques.
• Proficiency with C/C++, MATLAB, and/or Python programming languages.
• Proficiency with image‑processing and/or image‑analysis software.
• Experience with optical design and simulation tools (e.g., Zemax).
• Experience with MEMS and photolithography fabrication processes and IC packaging.
• Experience with electronics, including ICs, microcontrollers, FPGAs, and high‑throughput data transfer.