Manager, Electro-Optical Engineering

Location: Longmont, CO (onsite)
Experience: A minimum of 10+ years of experience.
Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Systems, Electrical, Optical Engineering or in related field.
Compensation: $150,000-$200,000 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
As an Electro-Optical (EO) Engineering Manager at nLIGHT DEFENSE Systems, you would be responsible for leading the people, processes, and technical execution that enable the successful development, integration, test, and delivery of advanced electro-optical systems. As an EO Engineering Manager, you will combine strong technical leadership with functional management responsibilities, serving as both an engineering leader and a hands-on contributor to complex development programs.

This role requires an experienced engineer who can guide and develop teams across all levels of seniority while simultaneously contributing to system architecture, technical problem-solving, integration planning, and customer engagement. You will establish technical direction, drive engineering excellence, allocate resources across programs, and ensure the professional development and success of your team.

EO Engineering Managers are expected to build high-performing teams capable of designing, integrating, and delivering High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon Systems, Beam Control Systems (BCS), and other advanced electro-optical solutions. This role serves as a critical link between engineering execution, program leadership, and organizational strategy.

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/.

Responsibilities
Lead and further develop a team of early career, mid-level, and senior Electro-Optical Engineers, providing technical mentorship, performance coaching, career development, and functional leadership.
Establish and drive the technical direction, engineering standards, best practices, and development methodologies for the Electro-Optical Engineering organization.
Provide hands-on technical leadership for the design, development, integration, test, and deployment of High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon Systems, Beam Control Systems (BCS), and other advanced electro-optical systems.
Serve as a senior technical authority for system architecture, requirements flow-down, interface management, verification planning, system performance optimization, and complex troubleshooting activities.
Manage engineering resources, staffing priorities, and workload allocation across multiple programs, proposals, and strategic initiatives.
Partner with Program Managers, Engineering leaders, and business leaders to balance technical, schedule, cost, and performance objectives while identifying and mitigating program risks.
Serve as a key customer-facing technical leader, supporting design reviews, technical presentations, field testing, demonstrations, and program execution activities.

Required Experience / Capability
Commitment to Excellence. Attention to Detail. Pride in Workmanship.
Demonstrated success leading and developing technical teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Ability to build strong working relationships across engineering disciplines, programs, operations, and executive leadership.
Proven experience balancing technical leadership, personnel management, and business objectives.
Strong organizational, planning, prioritization, and resource management skills.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with engineers, executives, customers, and government representatives.
Advanced problem-solving capability with the ability to make sound decisions using technical, programmatic, and business considerations.
Significant experience with the design, integration, test, and troubleshooting of electro-optical and laser systems.
Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering efforts involving optics, mechanics, electronics, firmware, software, and controls.
Strong understanding of systems engineering principles including requirements development, interface management, verification, validation, and risk management.
Experience developing technical roadmaps, staffing plans, and organizational capability growth strategies.
Experience reviewing and approving technical documentation, reports, analyses, procedures, and customer-facing deliverables.
Ability to assess technical performance, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions where required.
Working knowledge of engineering tools and environments including MATLAB, LabVIEW, and software-controlled electro-optical systems.

Additional Desired Experience / Capability:
Experience managing engineering teams supporting High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, Beam Control Systems (BCS), or Directed Energy programs.
System-level understanding of electro-optical architectures, acquisition, pointing and tracking systems, and beam control technologies.
Experience with engineering organizations operating in both development and production environments.
Exposure to engineering budgeting, capital planning, and laboratory infrastructure management.
Experience supporting business development, proposals, customer demonstrations, and technology roadmaps.
Familiarity with MIL-STD-810 qualification testing, environmental testing, and ruggedized system development.
Experience implementing engineering process improvements, design review practices, and configuration management disciplines.
Experience leading root cause and corrective action investigations for technical and programmatic issues.
Experience with Adaptive Optics (AO), advanced tracking systems, or related defense technologies.
Exposure to model-based engineering, digital engineering, or advanced simulation environments.
Experience working with classified programs and government customers.
Advanced knowledge of optical alignment, opto-mechanical integration, thermal management, and laser safety practices.

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 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).