Description: Are you passionate about cutting-edge technology in space exploration and eager to see your work applied to real-life missions that travel to space? If so, consider joining Lockheed Martin Space’s Optical Talent Center (OTC) as an Optical Payload Subsystem Engineering Senior Manager for space applications!

The OTC pioneers advancements in visible-light and infrared systems, missile defense, space exploration, and more. Our dedicated team is on a mission to make a meaningful impact, using their unique skills and experiences to tackle some of the world’s most challenging engineering problems.

We are seeking a strong leader to oversee the Optical Payload Subsystem Engineering, Mission Performance, and Test department, responsible for driving the systems engineering functions within payload Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to deliver optical subsystems to our Lines of Business (LOBs).

Your team will guide payload development through all phases of the product lifecycle, from requirements decomposition to sell-off and delivery. These teams will play a critical role in establishing reusable optical payload designs and common modeling/performance tools, ensuring consistency and affordability across multiple programs. Your leadership will involve close collaboration with Payload IPT leads and LOB leadership to understand mission drivers, integrate emerging trends into current practices, and maintain a competitive edge. You will also be responsible for technical knowledge management, career development opportunities, staffing, and sustaining key engineering capabilities.

As the Senior Manager for Optical Payload Subsystem Engineering, Mission Performance, and Test, you will:

Maintain a systems engineering framework for payloads, including:

• Mission and instrument performance analysis

• Optical payload system design

• Payload-level requirements, verification, and test planning

• EO/IR algorithm development

• Champion the development of common payload architectures for multiple missions, including passive EO, active EO, and directed energy.

• Apply consistent requirements and functional decomposition methodologies to standardize sell-off approaches.

• Promote the use of qualified product designs across multiple Space applications, strengthening overall design robustness.

• Develop mission performance analysis and image processing capabilities for reuse across various programs.

• Create transition plans for low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) products from the science and technology community.

• Lead or support intellectual property evaluations and the development of patent applications.

• Propose and execute Independent Research and Development (IRAD) projects focused on standardization and maturation, in coordination with OTC Program Development.

• Enhance relationships with strategic suppliers and other Lockheed Martin Business Areas (BAs) to complement the in-house OTC team.

This role will be located in either Sunnyvale, CA and Louisville, CO.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field (e.g., Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, or other Engineering/Science disciplines), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Proven experience in developing technical talent and establishing pipelines to sustain technical expertise within an organization.

• Prior experience in a formally recognized systems engineering role.

• Demonstrated expertise in the architecture and design of optical payloads, with an understanding of Technical Performance Measures (TPM) that influence trade and design decisions.

• Experience in working on Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission solutions.

• Current DoD Top Secret clearance or equivalent with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance

Desired Skills:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a proven ability to convey complex information effectively.

• Demonstrated experience in the design, development, and/or verification of signal and image collection systems.

• Proven leadership experience in Full Spectrum Leadership roles, with a track record of guiding teams to high productivity and fostering collaboration in a multi-functional environment.

• Demonstrated ability to drive closure and resolve complex technical challenges.

• Over 8 years of demonstrated technical expertise.

• Over 3 years of hands-on experience with space systems or complex hardware/software systems.

• Experience working across space and ground applications, including ground-to-ground, space-to-ground, and space-to-space systems.

• Experience in developing processing and dissemination computer algorithms; expertise in designing, developing, and analyzing systems and algorithms for extracting information from signal and image sensors.

• Experience in remote sensing, optical performance modeling, radiometric modeling, and calibration techniques, as well as wavefront error and wavefront sensing.

• Experience in testing methodologies for complex, high-precision systems, including optical alignment, radiometric testing, and full environmental testing for space applications.

• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Security Clearance Statement: This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.

Clearance Level: TS/SCI

Other Important Information You Should Know

Expression of Interest: By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.

Ability to Work Remotely: Onsite Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.

Work Schedules: Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.

Schedule for this Position: 9x80 every other Friday off

Pay Rate:

The annual base salary range for this position in California and New York (excluding most major metropolitan areas), Colorado, Hawaii, Washington or Washington DC is $153,200 - $293,600 . Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.

(Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.

This position is incentive plan eligible.

Pay Rate:

The annual base salary range for this position in most major metropolitan areas in California and New York is $176,200 - $331,900. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.

This position is incentive plan eligible.

Lockheed Martin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5 - 30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.

Join us at Lockheed Martin, where your mission is ours. Our customers tackle the hardest missions. Those that demand extraordinary amounts of courage, resilience and precision. They’re dangerous. Critical. Sometimes they even provide an opportunity to change the world and save lives. Those are the missions we care about.

As a leading technology innovation company, Lockheed Martin’s vast team works with partners around the world to bring proven performance to our customers’ toughest challenges. Lockheed Martin has employees based in many states throughout the U.S., and Internationally, with business locations in many nations and territories.

Experience Level: Experienced Professional

Business Unit: SPACE

Relocation Available: Possible

Career Area: Electro-Optical Engineering

Type: Full-Time

Shift: First