Active Optical Communications - Subject Matter Expert

Job Description
See what you are missing. Our employees work on the world's most advanced electronics - from detecting and defeating threats for F-35 pilots to radiation hardened space computing. Spanning air, land, sea, and space, we are developing the technology of tomorrow, delivered today. Drawing strength from our differences, we are innovating for the future. Our flexible work environment provides you a chance to change the world without giving up your personal life. We put our customers first - exemplified by our mission: "We Protect Those Who Protect Us®."
BAE Systems is seeking a Communications Subject Matter Expert (SME), product architect and individual contributor in the field of Free Space Optical and Laser Communication Techniques. You will be joining a growing and dynamic group of engineers in C4ISR developing leading edge capabilities in laser communications, active countermeasures, and SIGINT. You will serve as a technical contributor and as a technical leader within our Space Systems and Adaptive Communications and Sensing groups. You will be helping to align staffing and technical resources for the program execution of design, development, integration, implementation, test and verification/validation of passive electro optical and active laser products across multiple business areas.
As a Technical Leader, you will also work with other engineering staff & team Leaders to grow and capture our knowledge through engineering changes, lessons learned, insights, and product/process improvements in your area(s) of expertise. Finally, since cultural and behavioral principles are a special part of our engineering organization, we are also looking for team players who will support our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sound like a team you want to be a part of? Come build your career with us at BAE Systems.
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 take pride in important work-life balance initiatives including every other Friday Off, Flextime, and Telecommuting. 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.
Because of the need for intermittent in-person collaboration and/or the requirement to perform a portion of work onsite, this position will be considered hybrid. This means work will be conducted on location at a BAE Systems facility 50% or more of the time, as well as remotely, when applicable.
* Please note that pursuant to a government contract, this specific position requires US citizenship status*
Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• US Citizen with active Secret clearance and eligible for Top Secret/SCI/SAP/SAR clearance.
• In-depth working knowledge of optical communication systems, fiber optic transceivers, photonic integrated components, high-speed broad-band RF electronics for optical communications, and related digital signal analysis and processing.
• Hands-on experience with optical communication receivers including coherent I-Q demodulation, local oscillator (LO) laser sources, delay line interferometers, and intensity modulation waveform detection, signal filtering and pre-amplification, Mach Zehnder Modulators (MZM), MZM bias control, I-Q modulation, laser frequency control, and EDFA optical amplifiers.
• Able to perform modeling of optical communications components and systems, including coherent, to assess bit-error rate performance in the presence of optical, electrical noise and other impairments.
• Knowledge of digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms for optical waveforms (including OOK, PPM, DPSK, BPSK, QPSK), clock/data recovery methods, as well as digital coding and forward error correction (FEC). Ability to develop DSP requirements and guide implementation by firmware/software engineers.
• Working knowledge of optical atmospheric transmission and modeling; conducting of complex trade studies involving active sensors, optical designs, link budgets, SWaP, and environmental constraints.
• Building and leading innovative, high-performance teams for technology development.
• Designing, Verification, and Validation of systems to military specification requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including communication with internal and external management and senior-level customer representatives.
• Acting as a technical senior advisor to Senior Leadership Teams to support program & products, technical teammates, and management as well as for customers in making key technology trade-off decisions.
• Working with other experienced team leaders and technical specialists in the EO/IR domain, supporting team growth.
• BS in EE, Physics, Lasers, Optics, Systems, or equivalent with 12+ years of experience; or MS in EE, Physics, Optics, or equivalent with 10+ years of experience.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Top Secret SCI/SAP/SAR Cleared
• Modeling and simulation relevant to EO/IR laser sensors and weapon systems, including the development of high-fidelity digital system models.
• Ability to efficient & effectively conduct complex trade studies involving active sensing techniques, components, and systems across the electro optical spectrum from UV to RF; sensors, optical designs, link budgets, make/buy decisions, SWaP-C, and environmental constraints; including performance testing of EO/IR components, sub-systems, and complete systems.
• Working knowledge of active laser sensing theory and techniques of components and systems across the electro optical spectrum from NIR to LWIR; atmospheric transmission and modeling
• Working knowledge of systems engineering requirements management, analysis, allocation and compliance and trade-off study for active and passive EO/IR designs and effectively/efficiently converting stakeholder definition to architectural design.
• Working knowledge of Chief Engineering roles and responsibilities to include serving as a technical point-of-contact to the customer(s) in support of the PM, Program Engineering Leader, Program Engineering Managers and Functional Leadership while providing technical stewardship of engineering over the entire program.
• Ability to Deliver the Solution (the "System") meeting Customer Programmatic & Technical Requirements within allocated Engineering cost & schedule.
• Working knowledge of Systems Engineering and life cycle processes stages and process milestone execution decision gating reviews.
• Bid and proposal experience on major life cycle programs.
• Experience working & contributing independently with limited supervision and interacting effectively with other technical team-mates to achieve product and process technical goals while inspiring technical excellence.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $140690 - $239140
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.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere - from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact - for our customers and the communities we serve.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
At BAE Systems, we work hard every day to nurture an inclusive culture where employees are valued and feel like they belong. We are conscious of the need for all employees to see themselves reflected at every level of the company and know that in order to unlock the full potential of our workforce, everyone must feel confident being their best, most sincere self and be equipped to thrive. We provide impactful professional development experiences to our employees and invest in social impact partnerships to uplift communities and drive purposeful change. Here you will find significant opportunities to do meaningful work in an environment intentionally designed to be one where you will learn, grow and belong.