Principal Laser Systems Engineer

Attalon / Location Overview

Attalon is a leading technology partner to the global aerospace and defense industry, specializing in lasers and precision optics. With over 500 employees in the U.S., Attalon engineers critical optical, laser, and coating technologies that enable systems to see farther, target faster, and survive the harshest environments. From high-energy directed laser systems to satellite optics and hypersonic thermal protection, Attalon equips the warfighter with the advantage of precision.

Job Details

Attalon is seeking a Principal Laser Systems Engineer to lead the development of advanced lasers for aerospace applications. This engineer will take a lead role in laser systems engineering and system 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.

Responsibilities

• Laser Systems Engineering: Define and ensure compliance with system requirements, playing a key role in the structured decomposition of system-level specifications into sub-system and component specifications. Lead laser architecture development collaboratively with laser team across engineering disciplines and in collaboration with program management. Lead team to ensure that design concepts comply with customer specifications and are technically feasible and implementable.
• Technical Leadership: Lead a group of highly skilled optical engineers, coordinating engineering activities within the team and across engineering disciplines. Exhibit a deep understanding of laser physics and engineering, especially for high-power diode-pumped solid-state and fiber lasers. Exhibits strong degree of ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness to develop highly advanced technologies, processes, and concepts related to the design, test, and evaluation of high energy laser optical systems. Assist planning of R&D projects, troubleshooting critical processes, solving unusually complex problems, and providing technical expertise and guidance to the organization.
• Business Development: Serve as a spokesperson on new business opportunities and specialized projects. Serves as customer interface in meetings and other industry events as required. Lead and write technical proposals for the development of new business and assist in evaluating technical requirements, identifying exceptions, and preparing cost estimates for customer quotes.
• Management and personnel development: Serve as a manager and mentor of small team of talented laser engineers whose experiences range from senior chief engineers to new graduates.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in engineering field and 10-12 years of relevant experience
• Strong demonstrated technical background in lasers and laser technology, especially in high power fiber and diode-pumped solid-state lasers. Expert in laser physics and design. Demonstrated successful development of new, practical, challenging laser designs.
• Structured engineering background including familiarity and experience with systems engineering practices for the new product design and development lifecycle, including mission analysis, requirements definition and derivation, establishing error budgets / engineering constraint budgets, interface definition, and tracking compliance progress throughout the development lifecycle.
• Familiarity and experience with integration and test of complex laser systems including integration planning and sequencing, diagnostics and troubleshooting, formal verification planning and test design, and development of formal verification and qualification procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in optics, applied physics or electrical engineering preferred with 8-10 years of relevant experience. 7+ years managerial and leadership experience.
• Familiarity with executing to Department of Defense Contracts as Prime contractor or major Subcontractor is a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Attalon, Inc. 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.

Export Control Compliance

This role involves access to technology, materials, software, or hardware subject to U.S. export control laws. Therefore, to be considered, candidates must be classified as a "U.S. Person" under applicable regulations or be eligible for authorization under a U.S. government export license.