Senior Principal Laser Engineer

Coherent Aerospace & Defense Inc, Emerging Laser Subsystems Business Unit is seeking a Senior Principal Laser Engineer to lead the development of lasers for military applications.  This laser expert will take a lead role in laser systems engineering, integration, and test, including serving as a chief engineer, directing a team of laser experts, supporting program development and capture and serving as a customer-facing expert.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Chief Laser Engineer – provide optical engineering leadership for internally and externally funded development efforts, with a primary focus on the development of advanced diode-pumped solid-state laser development for military applications. 
• New business development – support new business development efforts by interfacing with potential customers, partnering with new business development team, and selling team’s capabilities.
• Customer interface – partner with program management and serve as the company’s lead customer-facing diode-pumped solid-state laser expert.

Education & Experience

M.S. or Ph.D. in optics, applied physics, physics or electrical engineering. 

Requires a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree or 9 years of experience with a Ph.D. or equivalent combination of education and work experience. Experience substantially greater than these minima are highly preferred.

Skills

• Must have successfully developed complex laser systems and have broad and deep experience in solid-state laser design.  Must be intimately familiar with the physics of rare-earth-doped lasers and amplifiers from the NIR to the SWIR, bulk-optic cavity design and their components and with the effects limiting laser performance. 
• Must have extensive experience modeling solid-state lasers and amplifiers (e.g. gain shapes, noise figure, cavity designs, stability, dynamics).
• Experience designing complex laser systems for military or space applications is strongly preferred.
• Must have experience working with potential customers, development program proposals.
• Must have experience serving as the primary technical representative on laser development programs.
• Must have experience constructing and tracking progress against detailed development plans.
• Experience with phased-gated developments and design for volume manufacturing is preferred.
• Experience with laser technology transfer, development of assembly instructions and low-rate initial production is desirable.
• Must be a self-starter, able to multi-task, work independently under consultative direction and collaboratively in a matrix managed organization.
• Must have experience leading a group, delegating objectives and tasks to others to achieve goals.
• Must be able to work on significant and unique issues where analysis of situations and data requires evaluation of intangibles.
• Must have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience in Intellectual Property matters is desirable. 
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to apply for a security clearance.

Working Conditions

Primarily an engineering design and management function with office working conditions.

Physical Requirements

Primarily an engineering design and management function with few physical requirements.

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent A&D EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Coherent A&D is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations (ITAR), applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8. U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State."