2026 Associate Optical Engineer / Optical Engineer | Northrop Grumman

POC and to request an interview: Johnny Chu - Chia.Chu@ngc.com

Northrup Grumman

Redondo Beach, CA location

US citizens only

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, but they’re also making history.

Northrop Grumman is seeking an Associate Optical Engineer / Optical Engineer in Manhattan Beach, CA.

The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Lasers & Sensors department, within the Electronics & Payloads group, which is a part of the Strategic Space Systems Division. 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: 

A candidate must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) from an accredited institution
• Be majoring in or having majored in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) degree
• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher (unofficial academic transcripts must be provided at time of application by uploading the documents to your application or profile).
• Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher