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Optical Engineer

BAE Systems

Merrimack, NH · HybridFull-time$79–135K/yrSeen 2mo agoSeen in employer's feed 2 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$79–135K/yr
Location
Merrimack, NHHybrid
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree, required

Job overview

BAE Systems is seeking an Optical Engineer for its EO/IR Capability Group to develop and mature advanced EO/IR system concepts. The work supports precision pointers, laser systems, imaging systems, and other complex systems, including optical subsystem design, analysis, measurement, and prototype testing. The role is hybrid, with three onsite days per week, and involves multidisciplinary collaboration.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Optical Component Testing, requiredOptical Metrology, requiredOptical Subassembly Design, requiredOptical Analysis, requiredElectro-Optical Systems, requiredEO/IR Systems, requiredSecret Clearance, nice to have

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Optical Engineering or Related Technical Field, requiredAbility to Obtain Secret Clearance, nice to haveActive Secret Clearance, nice to have

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave

Full job description

Job Description

BAE Systems is currently looking for a talented Optical Engineer to join our EO/IR Capability Group . This group comprises a team of expert Optical, Electro-Optical, Opto-mechanical and Laser specialists dedicated to developing innovative hardware solutions that drive the success of our program portfolio.

The Optical Design Engineer will develop and mature advanced EO/IR system concepts. Work will support development of next-generation Precision Pointers, Laser Systems, Imaging Systems, and other complex EO/IR systems.

This will include the design, analysis, and measurement of optical subsystems. Responsibilities include the design and analysis of optical subsystems, and the testing and validation of prototype assemblies. The work environment can present many technical challenges as well as significant growth opportunities. Successful technical contributors will be comfortable working in multi-disciplinary teams.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities Include:

  • Perform metrology for optical components

  • Design and develop test plans, optical test benches, etc for EOIR assemblies

  • Design and develop optical sub-assembly architectures and specifications for EO/IR Technology.

  • Predict and Perform performance analysis and design verification.

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively

  • Contribute to program success

Hybrid : Onsite 3 days per week

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

  • BS degree in Optical Engineering or a related technical field

  • Exerience with optical component testing and metrology

  • Comfortable working in optics labs and operating optical metrology

  • Experience in designing optical subassemblies and performing optical analysis

  • Experience working with electro-optical systems

  • Understanding EO/IR Systems

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

  • Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance

  • Perferred: Active Secret Clearance

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $79365 - $134921

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20 hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

Optical Engineer

129096BR

EEO Career Site Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities . females . veterans . individuals with disabilities . sexual orientation . gender identity . gender expression

How this job compares

Set against the 434 open Optical Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$79–135K/yr
  • New Hampshire median$118–201K/yr20 salary ranges
  • US median$115–201K/yr384 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $107K, is 35% below the New Hampshire median midpoint ($165K) — in the lowest quarter of Optical Engineer salary ranges in New Hampshire.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 20 open Optical Engineer jobs in New Hampshire and 434 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most across the US
Experience
Optical Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 3 to 6 years (377 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 264 of the 434 open Optical Engineer jobs (61%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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