Staff Electro-Optical Engineer - Mission Modeling

Location: Longmont, CO (hybrid/onsite)

Experience: 7 years of experience

Minimum Education: Master’s Degree in Engineering, Science or related field. PhD is preferred.

Compensation: $140,000-$190,000 depending on experience.

Who We Are

nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading developers of Directed Energy systems, which is a top modernization priority of the Department of Defense. Our High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, Adaptive Optical (AO) systems, and Acquisition / Pointing / Tracking (APT) solutions are designed to overcome the most difficult challenges facing the deployment of high energy laser solutions to the United States military and our allies. Located in Longmont, Colorado, nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is a vertically integrated business that leverages internal capabilities – from semiconductor device through target identification – to develop systems that are both high-performance and cost-effective. We continue to invest in capabilities, facilities and technology to bring leading edge HEL solutions to the warfighter. This is a great opportunity to work at a company that is on the leading edge of the HEL industry and provides a culture of excellence and commitment to delivering solutions to the warfighter and our country.

Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).

Summary

Electro-Optical (EO) Engineers in the Mission Modeling group at nLIGHT DEFENSE Systems, Inc. are the connection between customer mission and system architecture over the full life of programs, from initial concept development to deployment in field. As a member of the Mission Modeling team, you will perform modeling and simulation of directed energy and other laser systems to inform architecture trades and drive key system performance requirements. As systems are integrated and tested, you will process and analyze data to validate compliance against key requirements and assess impact to system performance when fielded. As systems are field tested, you will evaluate performance against predictions to anchor models and support system troubleshooting/optimization.

The ideal candidate will be able to effectively work across multiple discipline groups to develop a comprehensive understanding of the system architecture and operation, develop representative models at appropriate levels of detail, and critically examine results for accuracy and realism. If you want a career progression opportunity that leads from technical leadership to ultimately a technical program or system architect role, delivering complete EO systems to customers, then we are the right place for you.

All applicants must possess or be qualified to obtain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Preference will be given to candidates with an existing U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Further information on requirements to obtain a security clearance is available at: https://www.dcsa.mil/mc/pv/mbi/gicp/. Please review this information before applying.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and exercise laser system performance modeling and analysis tools in support of multiple programs.
• Engage with customer technical teams as a system architecture and performance technical expert.
• Support proposal efforts and early program execution via development and evaluation of novel system architecture concepts.
• Identify key assembly/sub-system/system performance parameters required to provide anchored predictions of system field performance; inform and review complex test setups to measure said key parameters; process and analyze resulting data and incorporate into system models.
• Collaborate with engineering teams across all disciplines to understand sub-system/assembly design trades and connection to system performance.
• Support Systems Engineering team in developing anchored, traceable system and sub-system performance requirements.
• Provide on-site and remote technical leadership during field tests, including troubleshooting, data analysis, and real-time decision-making.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation plans in coordination with program management.
  
  

Required Experience / Capability

• Commitment to Excellence. Attention to Detail. Pride in Workmanship.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment and maintain composure and strong working relationships under pressure.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts to internal and external stakeholders/customers in clear and concise manner, and ability to lead detailed technical discussions with customer technical experts.
• Ability to independently plan, prioritize, and execute work with minimal oversight, meeting mid- to long-term program milestones.
• Advanced problem-solving capability, with the ability to synthesize information from multiple technical disciplines to reach sound engineering decisions.
• Expertise in multiple of the following areas: physics-based modeling and simulation, wave optics propagation, Fourier optics, beam control and adaptive optics, radiometry of active and passive imaging systems, direct detect and coherent detect lidar, light-matter interaction, statistical analysis, systems analysis, mission analysis, and experimental work with laser systems.
• Expertise in MATLAB, Python, and/or C/C /C# and ability to collaboratively develop advanced modeling tools.
• Author, review, and approve technical reports, test plans, procedures, and customer-facing documentation.
• Experience mentoring engineers and technicians and providing technical direction across disciplines.
  
  

Additional Desired Experience / Capability

• Experience in Adaptive Optics (AO) Systems and/or High Energy Laser systems.
• System-level understanding of electro-optical architecture and interface management.
• Experience in thermal management systems and thermal performance trade-offs.
• Experience in power storage and distribution systems and performance trade-offs.
• STOP analysis (structural, thermal, optical performance).
• Experience in vibration test, analysis, and isolation methods, particularly jitter analysis for opto-mechanical systems.
• Experience in finite element analysis (FEA) modeling of vibration and thermal effects.
• Experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.
• Exposure to MIL‑STD‑810 design, analysis, and/or qualification testing.
  
  

Benefits Summary

• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
• 11 paid Holidays
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Health (ACA Gold Plan), Vision and Dental Care paid by employer 100% for Employee and 75% for Dependents
• Paid Family Leave, Short and Long Term Disability paid by employer 100%
• Competitive 401k with company match and immediate vesting
  
  

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at HR@nlightdefense.com.