Chief EO/IR Architect Engineer
CACI International· Defense· Aug 17, 2026 · 2mo agoPosted 71 days ago
Danbury, CT, US
In office
Full-time
Principal
$132K–$290K
12+ years exp
Before you apply
Ghost Signal:
Open 71 days.
Job description
Job Title: Chief EO/IR Architect Engineer
Job Category: Engineering
Time Type: Full time
Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None
Employee Type: Regular
Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 25%
Type of Travel: Continental US
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The Opportunity:
As a Chief EO/IR Architect Engineer, you will be involved in all phases of system development, from pre‑proposal activities through final design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, verification, and delivery, providing technical direction and leadership to integrated product teams of varying sizes.
Responsibilities:
There are no direct reports to this position; however, you will be responsible for the oversight and direction of project‑specific teams of engineers executing design development of EO/IR systems. Specific responsibilities include:
Evaluation and shaping of customer requirements, assisting business development in defining the opportunity spaces in which future contracts lie.
Development of the top‑level system architecture of mission solutions, including optical and electronic design requirements, on‑board processing requirements, platform interfaces, and CONOPS.
Defining, executing, and overseeing system design trades.
Interfacing with customers throughout the product life cycle as the lead technical representative of the product development team.
Leading program teams, including other engineering disciplines and interfacing with program management, to develop optical system design concepts and decompose and flow down system requirements to lower‑level assemblies and components.
Preparing and presenting material for formal design reviews and customer meetings.
Defining and leading internal IR&D projects.
Qualifications:
Required:
Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of relevant work experience OR 10 years of relevant work experience with a Master’s degree.
Decomposition of complex systems into logical building blocks and the ability to develop the requisite error budgets and requirements traceability.
Evaluation and definition of the optical, mechanical, electrical, and environmental inputs into an EO/IR system and their influence on overall requirements compliance.
Program planning including scope definition, resourcing, and budgeting.
Proficient technical writing skills including proposal content, requirements specifications, verification matrices, verification plans, and verification reports.
CONOPS development.
Technical leadership of cross‑functional/discipline teams.
Desired:
Experience in architecting and/or developing imaging system solutions for spaceborne missions.
Knowledge of EO industry technical capabilities (e.g., focal planes, electronics) for space systems, supporting architecting of EO payloads.
Familiarity with mission‑level performance requirements including NIIRS (image quality), Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Minimum Detectable Target, and/or geolocation.
Familiarity with mission‑level phenomenology including solar‑illuminated signal and thermal emission of objects and background/clutter and appropriate selection of spectral bands.
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What You Can Expect:
A culture of integrity.
At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.
An environment of trust.
CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.
A focus on continuous growth.
Together, we will advance our nation s most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.
Pay Range :
There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.
The proposed salary range for this position is:
$131,800 - $290,000
CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.
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