Engineer Senior Principal - Optical - Focal Plane Systems
BAE Systems · Boulder, CO · Engineering & Technology
About this role
BAE Systems is hiring a senior-level Systems Engineer in the operations function based in Boulder, CO. The posting calls out experience with TypeScript. Compensation is listed at $132,962–$226,035 per year.
- Role
- Systems Engineer
- Function
- operations
- Level
- senior
- Track
- Tech leadership
- Employment
- Full-time
- Location
- Boulder, CO
- Department
- Engineering & Technology
- Posted
- May 7, 2026
More roles at BAE Systems
Job description
from BAE Systems careersJob Description
Are you ready to design the eyes of the next generation of space payloads? We are looking for a Focal Plane Systems Engineer to architect cutting-edge electro-optical (EO) focal plane subsystems. This career offers a unique challenge: managing the complex intersection of optical physics, advanced materials science, high-speed electrical engineering, and cryogenic thermal management. Your work will directly enable critical capabilities to achieve mission success across Civil, Defense, and Tactical applications.
This position is for a Focal Plane Systems Engineer and will report to the Detector Technology Center of the Payload Engineering department within the Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit of BAE Systems Space and Missions Systems (SMS).
The Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit comprises the technical talent and organizational leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers’ missions. Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and strong execution.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead the development of custom focal plane subsystems with applications across the electromagnetic spectrum (UV, Visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR) for space-based platforms.
- Define subsystem architectures and guide the design, integration, testing, and qualification of low-noise detectors used in high-speed video, and scientific applications.