Senior EO/IR Systems Engineer
Long Wall
Software Engineering
Long Beach, CA, USA
USD 139,175-160k / year
Posted 6+ months ago
Long Wall Company was created in 2025 to accelerate missile defense technology for the U.S. and our allies. Building on the RS1 and GS0 launch systems, Long Wall develops containerized, mass-producible missile defense systems and offers rapid, low-cost flight testing. We believe that the future of global security and stability require defensive technology that is lower cost, higher performing, better tested, and more broadly distributed than is possible today. Join us.
What we look for
Mission-Driven Problem Solvers. The aerospace frontier demands ingenuity. We want Team members who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission.
Total Ownership. We seek staff and engineers who take full responsibility for contributing to and delivering flight-ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers, corporate professionals, and technicians make their teammates better. Knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success.
Long Wall is seeking a Senior EOIR Systems Lead to architect, build, and lead our complete electro-optical and infrared sensing pipeline for advanced interceptor systems. This is a technical leadership role requiring deep expertise across the entire EOIR chain—from synthetic scene generation to sensor physics modeling, and from real-time image processing and tracking algorithms. You will own the critical path for seeker capability development, working at the intersection of physics-based modeling, algorithm design, and real-time system integration. This role requires both hands-on technical contribution and the ability to build and mentor a team.
Responsibilities
- Architect and implement IR scene generation capability for high-fidelity missile seeker simulation
- Develop physics-based radiometric models (target signatures, backgrounds, atmospheric effects)
- Integrate commercial scene generation tools into our real-time simulation pipeline
- Build electro-optical sensor models capturing optics, focal plane arrays, and readout electronics
- Model detector noise characteristics, optical aberrations, and signal chain performance
- Validate sensor models against hardware characterization data
- Design and implement detection, tracking, and aimpoint selection algorithms for terminal guidance
- Develop multi-target discrimination and track management logic
- Optimize algorithms for real-time execution on embedded processors
- Integrate EOIR chain into hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test infrastructure
- Work closely with the flight software team on sensor interfaces and message protocols
- Support Monte Carlo performance assessment and statistical analysis
- Build and lead the EOIR engineering team as the program scales
- Define technical roadmaps and architecture decisions for seeker development
- Mentor junior engineers and establish best practices
Scene Generation & Radiometry
Sensor Physics Modeling (EOSM)
Signal Processing & Tracking Algorithms
System Integration
Team & Technical Leadership
Basic Qualifications
- For a Level III Engineer:
- Degree in (or related to) one of the following fields:
- aerospace engineering, optical engineering, electrical engineering, physics or a related field.
- And one of the following combinations of minimum education and years of experience in electro-optical or infrared sensor system design and analysis.
- Bachelor’s degree AND minimum of 5 years of related experience
- Master’s degree AND minimum of 3 years of related experience
- PhD AND minimum of 1 year of related experience.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- M.S. or Ph. D. in a relevant technical field
- Solid foundation in optics, imaging systems, and sensor physics
- Proficiency with modeling and analysis tools such as Matlab, Python, MODTRAN
- Ability to perform and communicate first-principles analysis
- Experience with seeker systems, imaging sensors, or optical payloads in aerospace or defense applications
- Familiarity with opto-mechanical packaging including alignment, lens mounting, and tolerance analysis
- Experience with CAD tools and their integration into optical system design
- Experience developing and supporting test setups for optical and sensor system validation
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
- Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
- Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and telepresence
- Ability to pick up to 50lbs
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
ITAR Requirement
This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.
139175 - 160000 USD a year
Compensation and Benefits:
The compensation range for this role is:
P3/Engineer III - $139,175 - $160,000/yr
P4/Sr. Engineer - $169,000 - $200,300/yr
This is the lowest to highest compensation range we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.
In addition to base pay and equity, we offer:
· Heavily employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
· Long Wall paid life insurance and LTD coverage
· 4% 401k match
· Student loan repayment assistance program
· Paid parental leave
· Family planning assistance program
· Long Wall paid financial wellness program
· Paid time off for non-exempt employees and flexible vacation policy for exempt employees