2027 Associate Optical Engineer / Optical Engineer - Manhattan Beach CA

Northrop GrummanNorthrop GrummanManhattan Beach, California, United States
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Posted

10/6/2026

Employment

Full time

Range

$84k - $151k/year

Work style

On-site

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AI summary

Core responsibilities

The role involves designing, modeling, and testing optical and electro-optical systems including sensors, lasers, and fiber-optic components. The engineer will also conduct research into physical and geometric optics to support mission-critical space solutions.

Requirements overview

Candidates must hold or be completing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution. Applicants must be U.S. citizens capable of obtaining a government security clearance.

Key skills

Optical EngineeringElectro-optical systemsSensorsLasersFiber-opticsTelecommunicationsPhysical opticsGeometric opticsPhotonicsBeam control systemsOptical communicationsSix sigmaDesign-to-costModelingTesting

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Education requirements

bachelor degreepostgraduate degree

About Northrop Grumman

Industry

Defense and Space Manufacturing

Employees

87,943

Type

Public Company

Size

10,001+ employees

We are a close-knit community of big thinkers collaborating to keep the world safe. Our passion, creativity and expertise bring next-level technology solutions to life in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, space, and logistics and modernization for our customers around the globe. On the Northrop Grumman team, you’ll join our pursuit of excellence immersed in a dynamic culture of innovation and respect. Your unique perspective will help achieve our shared vision for the future of global security. Every step of the way, you'll be supported by world-class training, employee resource groups and a comprehensive benefits package that enables greater health and happiness for you and your family. Worldwide and across disciplines, we’re challenging what’s possible for technology to protect people and places from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. And we see the impact of our performance every day. We are Northrop Grumman, and we work on what matters—now, you too can make a difference. Explore opportunities in engineering, IT, manufacturing, business management, cybersecurity and more at jobs.northropgrumman.com/careers. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions. Our careers site can be found at jobs.northropgrumman.com/careers. If you are contacted about a job at Northrop Grumman, please verify the email came from the domain @ngc.com before engaging with that contact. If you are contacted by a Northrop Grumman recruiter on LinkedIn, please that their profile includes the verified check mark to ensure the contact is legitimate.

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Job categories

EngineeringTechnologyScience & ResearchGovernment & Public Sector

Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. Northrop Grumman is a space pioneer, supporting government, civil and commercial customers in solving their biggest challenges. Our forward-leaning, innovative spirit is backed by a legacy of expertise that began at the dawn of the space age. Our mission experience in space runs deep, we know our customers well, and our capabilities are unmatched. This is what allows us to provide reliable, agile and affordable space solutions to best serve our customers. From defending freedom to advancing human discovery, we are defining what is possible in space every day. Entry Level opportunities at Northrop Grumman are unique. Are you interested in boosting your knowledge through experience and exposure, while supporting a mission that seeks to protect our nation and its allies? If so, then Northrop Grumman is the place you! Our professionals live and breathe different perspectives; we are curious about the world, accepting each other, and aware that the more ideas, backgrounds, opinions and experiences we bring to our work, the stronger that work will be. Just as you would invest your time and hard work into our company, we focus on investing back into you through enriching professional experiences and high-quality learning and development opportunities. We want you to bring your whole self to work, and for you to have meaningful connections with your coworkers, customers and communities, while providing the best products, systems and technologies to protect our world. Northrop Grumman is seeking Associate Optical Engineer / Optical Engineers. This position will be located at our Space sector in Manhattan Beach, CA. The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Lasers & Sensors department, within the Electronics & Payloads group. This team provides Optical Engineering to address the generation, transmission and receipt of optical signals and energy for EO / IR sensors, optical communications terminals, laser & beam control systems, photonics and other optical mission solutions.. Roles and Responsibilities Designs, models, analyzes, and tests optical and electro-optical systems and components, including sensors, lasers, fiber-optics, and telecommunications products. Conducts research and development into phases of physical optics and geometric optics, lasers, laser characteristics, laser maintenance, and broadband optical sources. Applies research of complex optical systems to achieve desired optical manipulations. Develops component specifications, tolerances, simulations and tests procedures for electro-optical systems and components. Uses design-to-cost models, six sigma methodology, and other methods to assure optical design requirements met. Basic Qualifications: Basic Qualifications for an Associate Engineer Optical: Be completing or has completed their Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution Be majoring in or having majored in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) degree Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) The ability to obtain Special Access Program within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs Basic Qualifications for a Engineer Optical: Be completing or has completed their Master’s degree from an accredited institution Be majoring in or having majored in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) degree Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) The ability to obtain Special Access Program within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs Preferred Qualifications for both levels: Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.0 or higher Salary Range: Associate Optical Engineer: $83,800 to $125,800 Optical Engineer: $101,000 to $151,400 campusjobs The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Requirements

  • •Optical Engineering
  • •Electro-optical systems
  • •Sensors
  • •Lasers
  • •Fiber-optics
  • •Telecommunications
  • •Physical optics
  • •Geometric optics
  • •Photonics
  • •Beam control systems
  • •Optical communications
  • •Six sigma
  • •Design-to-cost
  • •Modeling
  • •Testing

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