Title:  Electro Optical Designer

Electro Optical Designer

Reference #24867

Waterdown, Ontario

About L3HARRIS WESCAM

As a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies and within the Integrated Mission Systems Segment, the WESCAM division develops the most advanced optical sensor and targeting systems for global defense and military sectors, National Security, Search & Rescue and Airborne law enforcement agencies. From long-range covert surveillance missions to search and rescue operations, our MX-series systems, and the mission systems solutions they are a part of, produce stabilized high-magnification electro-optical and infrared images from airborne, marine and ground based platforms, enabling our customers to see first and act first.

About the Role

Designs, develops and tests optical technologies and systems. Interacts with device, hardware and software design teams to assist in overall development of optical systems; specifying, selecting and qualifying active and passive optical components, developing and benchmarking system performance models, developing and implementing test procedures and/or evaluating and selecting appropriate test instrumentation. Provides multi-discipline support to instrumentation production by resolving technical issues associated with components, parts, products or systems; testing of new and existing designs and documentation of changes through a formal engineering change notification process. May provide recommendations for cost reduction efforts. May apply quantitative analysis in determining root cause of highly technical problems and propose, develop and implement solutions for corrective action.

Primary Responsibilities 

• Actively participate in the development of complex Electro-Optical sub-assemblies such as digital imaging systems, thermal imaging systems and laser positioning systems.
• Active member of New Product Introduction (NPI) teams, supporting the development of modern Electro-Optical sub-assemblies from concept to production.
• Verification of proposed design solutions via a combination of analyses and tests.
• Actively support the manufacturing organization to ensure proper knowledge transfer, timely resolution of design issues and effective test methodologies development.
• Support design improvements of established Electro-Optical modules.
• Collaborate closely with other team members from Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Systems Engineering and Operations to ensure high quality of design solutions.
• Generation of related documentation including analyses summary, specification documents, test reports.
• Development and testing of sophisticated image processing algorithms using Matlab.
• Participate in and present results at design review meetings related to new Electro-Optical modules.
• Keep up-to-date knowledge of Electro-Optical industry trends and new technologies that may be relevant to Wescam’s business.

Required Capabilities 

• Strong knowledge of basic optics principles:
  • Laser Systems
  • Geometrical Optics, Imaging, Lens Design
  • Radiometry
  • Electro-magnetic waves propagation
  • Thin-film optical coatings
• Familiarity with various image sensor technologies (CCD, CMOS, Thermal Imagers, etc)
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills, proficient with Matlab or a similar language
• Proficient in optics and electronics lab environments
• Understanding of analog and digital video concepts:
  • Color science
  • NTSC & PAL standards
  • Digital video standards
  • Resolution and sensitivity measurements (MRTD, MRC, NETD, MTF, etc)
• Familiar with a wide range of engineering fields (mainly Mechanical, Electrical & Software)
• Knowledge of Optical Design software (CodeV or Zemax) an asset
• Knowledge of range performance modelling tools (Modtran, NVTherm, SSCam, etc) an asset

Desired Education and Experiences 

• Requires practical knowledge of job area.
• Bachelor’s Degree with minimum of 2 years of prior related experience
• Graduate degree or equivalent with 0 to 2 years of prior related experience  
• In lieu of a degree, minimum of 6 years of prior related experience

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