Optical Scientist Jobs in Alabama
Optical Scientist jobs in Alabama are concentrated in defense, aerospace, and photonics research, with consistent demand from entry-level lab roles through senior systems engineering positions. Huntsville leads hiring by a wide margin, anchored by federal contractors such as Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and Dynetics, with secondary activity in the Redstone Arsenal research corridor and around Birmingham. Laser systems design, electro-optical sensor development, and IR imaging are the specialties appearing most frequently in Alabama postings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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See related jobsAbout CFD Research: Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has delivered innovative technology solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, Intelligence & Sensing, and Energy & Materials industries. CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. Based in Huntsville, Alabama where laboratory facilities and headquarters are located, CFD Research also has office and laboratory facilities in Dayton, Ohio, prototyping test and evaluation facilities in Hollywood, Alabama, and office facilities in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. CFD Research is an ISO9001:AS9100D registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for Services. CFD Research is a 100% ESOP (employee-owned company) recognized in Inc. Magazine's Inc5000 as a top growing company for four of the last five years. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com
CFD Research is seeking an Electro-Optical Systems Engineer II to join our Advanced Optics Branch. This role bridges hardware, software, and electronics to develop and deliver EO/IR sensor systems for defense programs - spanning bench integration, sensor calibration, and field test. The right candidate thrives in a technically diverse environment and takes ownership across the full sensor development lifecycle.
Job Responsibilities
- Integrate EO/IR sensor assemblies across mechanical, electrical, and software domains, from component-level assembly through system-level test
- Develop and execute test plans for sensor systems; design and fabricate custom hardware fixtures to support integration and characterization activities
- Automate test workflows using Python (OpenCV, PyTorch, general scripting) to ensure data integrity and accelerate test execution
- Support field test events, including hardware setup, real-time monitoring, anomaly reporting, and post-test data processing
- Apply computer vision tools to support sensor alignment, calibration, and performance validation
- Diagnose failure modes across mechanical tolerances, electrical interfaces, and software logic; participate in Failure Review Boards (FRBs) as needed
- Collaborate with algorithm, electronics, and optics personnel to resolve integration issues and support hardware-in-the-loop test activities
- Document procedures, test results, and design findings in support of program deliverables
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering or a related technical discipline
- 2+ years of experience in systems integration, hardware test, or a related engineering role
- Hands-on experience integrating hardware assemblies involving mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces
- Proficiency in Python for test automation, data analysis, or computer vision applications
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, and assembly documentation
- Active Secret clearance or eligibility to obtain one
- Strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills; ability to isolate failures across multiple domains
-
Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen and possess the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with EO/IR sensor systems, optical assembly, or camera-based systems
- Familiarity with OpenCV, PyTorch, or similar computer vision and ML frameworks
- Experience with C++ in an engineering or embedded context
- Background in EMI, thermal, or vibration testing and instrumentation
- Exposure to CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent) for fixture design or hardware documentation
- Experience with GD&T and precision assembly processes
Location: This role is based in the Huntsville, AL area, and is 100% onsite.
Benefits: CFD Research offers competitive salaries and excellent employee benefits, including an employer matching 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). CFD Research offers our Full-Time, permanent employee-owners a highly competitive insurance package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance. Additionally, we offer company paid leave, compensation time, parental leave, long-term and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance. Part-Time and Temporary employee-owners may receive partial or reduced benefits and leave time based on their employment status level. Performance appraisals occur twice a year and annual pay increases are based upon corporate goals, personal development, performance, and outstanding achievements. In addition, group and individual bonuses are awarded for exceptional performance.
CFD Research is an EO employer - Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories
About CFD Research: Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has delivered innovative technology solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, Intelligence & Sensing, and Energy & Materials industries. CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. Based in Huntsville, Alabama where laboratory facilities and headquarters are located, CFD Research also has office and laboratory facilities in Dayton, Ohio, prototyping test and evaluation facilities in Hollywood, Alabama, and office facilities in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. CFD Research is an ISO9001:AS9100D registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for Services. CFD Research is a 100% ESOP (employee-owned company) recognized in Inc. Magazine's Inc5000 as a top growing company for four of the last five years. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com
CFD Research is seeking an Electro-Optical Systems Engineer II to join our Advanced Optics Branch. This role bridges hardware, software, and electronics to develop and deliver EO/IR sensor systems for defense programs - spanning bench integration, sensor calibration, and field test. The right candidate thrives in a technically diverse environment and takes ownership across the full sensor development lifecycle.
Job Responsibilities
- Integrate EO/IR sensor assemblies across mechanical, electrical, and software domains, from component-level assembly through system-level test
- Develop and execute test plans for sensor systems; design and fabricate custom hardware fixtures to support integration and characterization activities
- Automate test workflows using Python (OpenCV, PyTorch, general scripting) to ensure data integrity and accelerate test execution
- Support field test events, including hardware setup, real-time monitoring, anomaly reporting, and post-test data processing
- Apply computer vision tools to support sensor alignment, calibration, and performance validation
- Diagnose failure modes across mechanical tolerances, electrical interfaces, and software logic; participate in Failure Review Boards (FRBs) as needed
- Collaborate with algorithm, electronics, and optics personnel to resolve integration issues and support hardware-in-the-loop test activities
- Document procedures, test results, and design findings in support of program deliverables
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering or a related technical discipline
- 2+ years of experience in systems integration, hardware test, or a related engineering role
- Hands-on experience integrating hardware assemblies involving mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces
- Proficiency in Python for test automation, data analysis, or computer vision applications
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, and assembly documentation
- Active Secret clearance or eligibility to obtain one
- Strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills; ability to isolate failures across multiple domains
-
Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen and possess the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with EO/IR sensor systems, optical assembly, or camera-based systems
- Familiarity with OpenCV, PyTorch, or similar computer vision and ML frameworks
- Experience with C++ in an engineering or embedded context
- Background in EMI, thermal, or vibration testing and instrumentation
- Exposure to CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent) for fixture design or hardware documentation
- Experience with GD&T and precision assembly processes
Location: This role is based in the Huntsville, AL area, and is 100% onsite.
Benefits: CFD Research offers competitive salaries and excellent employee benefits, including an employer matching 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). CFD Research offers our Full-Time, permanent employee-owners a highly competitive insurance package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance. Additionally, we offer company paid leave, compensation time, parental leave, long-term and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance. Part-Time and Temporary employee-owners may receive partial or reduced benefits and leave time based on their employment status level. Performance appraisals occur twice a year and annual pay increases are based upon corporate goals, personal development, performance, and outstanding achievements. In addition, group and individual bonuses are awarded for exceptional performance.
CFD Research is an EO employer - Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories
See All 5 Optical Scientist Jobs in Alabama
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Find Optical Scientist JobsOptical Scientist Jobs by City in Alabama
Where Alabama roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Optical Scientist Job Market in Alabama
A snapshot from current Alabama openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Alabama Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in optical scientist jobs across Alabama.
- Bachelor's degree or higher in optical engineering, physics, or photonics required
- Hands-on experience with electro-optical or infrared sensor systems strongly preferred
- Active U.S. security clearance or eligibility to obtain one for defense-sector roles
- Proficiency in optical design software such as Zemax or Code V expected
- Experience with laser systems, fiber optics, or imaging detector characterization
- Familiarity with MIL-SPEC testing standards and defense program documentation practices
Optical Scientist Jobs in Alabama: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a optical scientist in Alabama?
Optical scientists in Alabama typically enter the field through a bachelor's degree in physics, optical engineering, or electrical engineering, with most competitive roles requiring a master's or doctoral degree for research-focused positions. Alabama has no state-issued license specific to optical scientists, so hiring decisions center on technical credentials, relevant laboratory experience, and security clearance eligibility. Many candidates secure their first Alabama roles through Redstone Arsenal contractor pipelines or university research programs at UAH or Auburn.
Which companies hire optical scientists in Alabama?
Companies currently hiring optical scientists in Alabama include Target Optical, CFD Research Corporation, and IERUS Technologies, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Alabama's concentration of defense and aerospace contractors around Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal means most openings sit within large federal prime contractors and their tier-one suppliers.
Which Alabama cities have the most optical scientist jobs?
Dothan, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa account for the largest share of optical scientist openings in Alabama. Huntsville dominates because of Redstone Arsenal and the dense cluster of defense contractors headquartered in the Cummings Research Park, while smaller metro areas like Decatur and Birmingham appear on the list when aerospace manufacturing and university research programs generate openings.
How can I get hired as a optical scientist in Alabama with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a graduate research assistantship at the University of Alabama in Huntsville or Auburn University, which place students directly into sponsored defense and photonics projects that feed local contractor hiring pipelines. Candidates without advanced degrees can target optical technician or electro-optical test technician roles at Huntsville-area contractors, then build toward scientist titles through internal development programs. Earning a Secret clearance eligibility determination early significantly widens the pool of accessible Alabama openings.
Where can I find and apply to optical scientist jobs in Alabama?
You can find and apply to optical scientist jobs in Alabama on Migrate Mate, which lists current Alabama openings updated in real time. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each position that fits.
See All 5 Optical Scientist Jobs in Alabama
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