
FAST Labs - Optical Systems Senior Scientist
Austin, TXFull-time$97–165K/yrSeen 3w agoSeen in employer's feed 1 day ago
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At a glance
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Job overview
The BAE Systems FAST Labs Sensor Technologies team seeks a Senior Scientist / R&D Systems Engineer to model, analyze, test, and develop next‑generation EO/IR sensors and systems, execute laboratory and field experiments, create advanced algorithms, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and government customers, working full‑time onsite at the Merrimack, NH facility.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
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Full job description
Job Description
The BAE Systems FAST Labs Sensor Technologies (ST) product line develops next-generation lasers, precision optical pointers, advanced seekers, and expendables. ST has established itself as a market leader in the development of EO/IR and RF technologies. Within ST, the Electro-Optic Sensing Solutions technology area focus on cutting-edge Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR) sensors, lasers, and sensing systems to meet our customers emerging mission needs. EOSS is seeking a Scientist / R&D Systems Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be a technical individual contributor with opportunities to gain responsibility for developing and demonstrating next-generation EO/IR sensors, systems, and techniques. Projects range from initial concept development through full system demonstration in relevant environments.
Specific job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
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Model, analyze, and test EO/IR systems and components for a variety of military/commercial applications
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Execute and analyze EO/IR laboratory and field experiments
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Develop and demonstrate advanced algorithms, measurement techniques, and systems prototypes
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Work in interdisciplinary teams to meet program technical and schedule goals
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Develop proposals for novel technologies, algorithms, or systems
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Interface directly with R&D government customers
Please note that pursuant to a government contract, this specific position requires US citizenship status and eligibility to obtain a US security clearance.
This position reports within the Electro-Optic Sensing Technology Group and is based out of our Merrimack, NH facility. This position will require virtual and in-person collaboration with customers and staff across BAE Systems ES Facilities. Because of the need for consistent, in-person collaboration and/or the requirement to perform all work onsite due to the nature of this particular role, it will be performed full-time on site . This means work will be conducted on location at a BAE Systems facility. Limited remote work may be a possibility at the discretion of the business.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
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BS in Physics, Optics, Electro-Optics, Electrical Engineering (EE), or equivalent with 4 years of experience working with complex EO/IR systems; or MS with 2 years of experience; or Ph.D. with 0 years of experience in the areas defined above
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Experience working independently and interacting effectively with project management to achieve project goals.
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In-depth knowledge of one or more optical system specialties; i.e. lasers, precision pointing of laser beams, design of pointing systems, performance testing of optical components and subsystems, atmospheric correction, optical communications, etc.
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Modeling and simulation expertise in at least one common language (i.e. MATLAB, Mathcad, Mathematica, Python, C , etc.)
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US citizenship status and ability to obtain a US security clearance.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
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Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams consisting of mechanical, electrical, optical, software and systems engineers
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Expertise in at least one optical application including infrared countermeasures, passive detection and tracking, LIDAR, coherent LIDAR, remote sensing, or laser communications
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Experience implementing systems engineering practices and working knowledge of DoW product development lifecycle
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Active Secret DoW or DoE clearance
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $97008 - $164914
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.
FAST Labs - Optical Systems Senior Scientist
130701BR
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 10,723 open Systems Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 27, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$97–165K/yr
- Texas median$108–180K/yr274 salary ranges
- US median$115–188K/yr7,922 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $131K, is 10% below the Texas median midpoint ($145K) — in the middle half of Systems Engineer salary ranges in Texas.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 551 open Systems Engineer jobs in Texas and 10,723 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Texas
- Lockheed Martin54 open
- RTX Corporation36 open
- Serco32 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for no prior experience — less than three in four Systems Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 8,903 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 4,701 of the 10,723 open Systems Engineer jobs (44%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 27, 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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