Electrical Systems Engineer, Infrared Systems

Job Description

Job Description

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art. 

HRL Laboratories pioneers world-class infrared sensor systems for aerospace and defense, enhancing national capabilities through innovative solutions. We collaborate closely with our customers to transform emerging needs into high-performance outcomes. Our business model leverages our focus on advanced research and product delivery, ensuring customer satisfaction and mission success.

General Description
Support systems engineering activities for IR sensor products under the guidance of senior engineers. Assist with requirements analysis, documentation, integration support, and customer communication while contributing to cross disciplinary engineering efforts from concept through delivery.

Essential Duties
• Support customer technical communication by gathering information, preparing status updates, and ensuring clarity on requirements and decisions under direction from senior engineers.
• Assist in translating customer needs into system requirements and maintain traceability throughout development.
• Contribute to system architecture development by performing analyses, documenting options, and supporting trade studies.
• Work with cross functional teams to support requirements definition, allocation, and verification planning throughout the systems engineering lifecycle.
• Participate in system level technical reviews and help resolve engineering issues through data analysis and coordination with subject matter experts.
• Support identification and tracking of system level risks, raising concerns to senior team members and stakeholders.
• Assist in planning and executing verification and validation activities, including test preparation, data collection, and documentation.
• Help maintain configuration control, support engineering change processes, and assist in transitioning designs from R&D prototypes toward production readiness.

Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 2–4 years of experience in component, device, or subsystem development.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate with cross functional teams.
• Some experience contributing to prototype development or supporting transitions from research to early production environments.
• Familiarity with aerospace or defense development standards; prior exposure to structured systems engineering environments is preferred.
• Basic proficiency in data analysis for performance evaluation, requirements verification, or sensor testing.
• Foundational understanding of IR camera systems, including key performance drivers and basic optical/electrical test methods.
• Exposure to wafer fabrication, microelectronics packaging, or system level integration is beneficial but not required.

Special Requirements
US Citizenship required. Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government clearance.

Compensation and Benefits:

•    Pay Range: $128,000 - $159,950
•    Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range
displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position.
Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors,
including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter
can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
•    Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits
package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance,
401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and
challenging work environment.
•    For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply
to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a
diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past
experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you
to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform
pre-employment substance abuse testing.

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the
law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants \u007C U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

For our privacy policy please visit: 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.