New

Sr. Electro-Optical Engineer

nLIGHT, Inc.
paid time off, paid holidays, long term disability, tuition assistance, 401(k)
United States, Colorado, Longmont
Apr 13, 2026
Description Location:Longmont, CO (onsite) Experience: 10+ years of electro-optical experience Minimum Education:Master's Degree in Engineering, Science or related field. PhD is preferred. Compensation:$170,000-$210,000 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 at nLIGHT DEFENSE Systems, Inc. are the engine of execution. As a Senior EO Engineer, you are expected to serve as a technical authority and execution leader, not only problem-solving and aligning systems during system integration but leading the planning, coordination, and technical execution of complex, multi-disciplinary development and integration efforts. Senior EO Engineers mentor and help technically guide other engineers and technicians, shaping best practices while learning and applying a broad set of multi-disciplinary tools and techniques ranging from opto-mechanical design and integration methods to software integration, controls, and advanced data analysis. This role is designed for individuals who have progressed beyond disciplined bench execution and now routinely lead integrated product teams, own subsystem or system-level technical performance, influence programmatic decisions, and interface directly with internal stakeholders and external customers. If you want a career progression opportunity that leads from technical leadership to integrated product team lead and 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: Lead design, development, integration, and test of High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon Systems and/or HEL Beam Control Systems (BCS). Serve as a system or subsystem technical lead, driving architecture, interfaces, requirements flow-down, and verification strategies. Responsibilities include hardware integration and test, definition of test strategies, data processing, and preparation of formal performance, qualification, and acceptance test documentation. Define, design, and approve complex test setups to evaluate key system performance parameters. Coordinate and technically direct team members to execute complex integration activities across optics, mechanics, electronics, firmware, and software. 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 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. Installation, alignment, and integration of optics, electro-optics, and mechanics (COTS and custom). Demonstrated leadership in enforcing cleanliness, contamination control, and process discipline, including cleanroom environments. Recognized expertise in working with laser and electro-optical systems, including safety, reliability, and performance optimization. Exhibit expert-level troubleshooting skills to solve complex and constrained opto-mechanical alignment problems, particularly for ruggedized systems. Author, review, and approve technical reports, test plans, procedures, and customer-facing documentation. Extensive experience with high power laser systems, including thermal, coating, nonlinear, and reliability considerations. Integration of auto-alignment algorithms and methods, including algorithm selection and performance trade studies. Lead integration efforts for real-time control of electro-optical and mechanical components using LabVIEW, MATLAB, firmware, and/or C/C++/C# (normally involving code re-use). Experience with electro-optical systems including acquisition, pointing, and tracking, with demonstrated ownership of system-level performance metrics. Strong working proficiency in MATLAB and/or C/C++/C#; ability to review, modify, and guide software development. Experience in Adaptive Optical (AO) Systems. Experience in specification and evaluation of optical coating requirements, particularly for high power applications. Experience with optical fiber splicing, polishing, repair/service, and fiber management. Experience mentoring engineers and technicians and providing technical direction across disciplines. Additional Desired Experience / Capability: Experience in rugged design for optical systems including kinematic, flexure mounting, and optical/structural adhesive mounting. System-level understanding of electro-optical architecture and interface management. Experience in optical system alignment and test methods, including tolerance analysis and alignment planning. Experience in opto-mechanical assembly, including receiving and inspecting components, dry-assembly, and bonding. Experience in thermal management systems and thermal 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. Static structure, fatigue, random vibration, and modal analysis. Experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Advanced experience with MATLAB and LabVIEW. Experience in Adaptive Optics (AO) Systems and/or High Energy Laser systems. Exposure to MILSTD810 design, analysis, and/or qualification testing. Experience with operation of machining, welding, or fabrication equipment. 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 [emailprotected] .