Systems Engineer Directed Energy and Laser Systems Integration

Systems Engineer - Directed Energy and Laser Systems Integration Location: Remote U.S. Preferred locations include Huntsville, Alabama, Albuquerque, New Mexico or other U.S. defense / directed energy concentration areas. Role Type: Full-time Level: Mid-Senior Position Summary Civan Lasers is seeking a mid-senior Systems Engineer to support U.S. defense and advanced systems customers. The primary focus is directed energy systems integration, including laser source and laser subsystem integration into larger directed energy architectures. This role will support customer and integrator discussions involving beam director architectures, pointing and tracking systems, power and thermal interfaces, safety controls, command interfaces, test equipment and field support infrastructure. This is a systems integration role, not a narrow optics or photonics design role. Civan has deep internal expertise in lasers, optics and photonics. The priority is a defense-capable systems engineer who can work directly with U.S. primes and directed energy integrators, translate customer requirements into engineering actions, support interface control and coordinate with Civan’s global engineering teams. The role may also advise or manage adjacent integration activity for free-space optical communications, including Optical Communications Terminal integration, and industrial material processing. These secondary areas may include machine integration, seam tracking, wire feed and gas management interfaces. Key Responsibilities Lead U.S. technical integration support for directed energy customers, including defense primes, directed energy integrators and advanced systems partners. Support laser source integration into larger directed energy systems, including beam director architectures, pointing and tracking systems, power and thermal interfaces, safety controls, command interfaces, test equipment and field support infrastructure. Capture, clarify and translate customer requirements into engineering requirements, interface definitions, test plans, action plans and technical documentation. Coordinate technical issues between U.S. customers, U.S. operations and Civan’s global engineering teams. Support interface control, requirements documentation, technical reviews, test planning, acceptance testing, troubleshooting and issue tracking. Provide disciplined technical feedback to internal engineering teams based on customer requirements, field performance, integration issues and lessons learned. Support customer and integrator discussions involving controlled technical information, documentation discipline and appropriate handling of sensitive customer requirements. Help define system-level integration needs across laser source, controls, automation, motion systems, sensors, safety systems, fixturing and production support equipment. Advise or manage adjacent integration activity for free-space optical communications, including Optical Communications Terminal integration. Advise or manage material processing integration activity, including machine integration, seam tracking, shield gas delivery, gas management, wire feeders, motion platforms, sensors and related support systems. Assist with early U.S. assembly, test, commissioning and field support activity as the U.S. business scales. Help build repeatable engineering processes, documentation standards and customer support methods for the U.S. operation. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field. Experience working directly with defense primes, directed energy system integrators, beam director / gimbal integrators or electro-optical / infrared system integrators. Systems engineering, integration engineering, test engineering, field engineering, automation engineering or similar applied technical background. Experience supporting complex electro-mechanical, optical, aerospace, defense, robotics, automation, high-power or customer-integrated systems. Ability to translate customer needs into technical requirements, interface definitions, action plans, test plans and engineering documentation. Strong technical writing, documentation, configuration discipline and issue-management skills. Ability to work directly with customers, integrators, internal engineering teams and senior technical stakeholders. Practical understanding of integration risk, field support, technical troubleshooting, acceptance testing and customer-facing engineering execution. Ability to operate independently as the first U.S. Systems Engineer supporting customer discussions, technical documentation, integration planning and engineering coordination. Ability to support customer and integrator discussions involving controlled technical information, documentation discipline and sensitive technical requirements. Preferred Qualifications Directed energy, high-energy laser or laser source integration experience. Beam control, beam director, gimbal, stabilized payload, pointing and tracking or advanced electro-optical systems experience. Experience supporting defense-prime or directed energy integrator technical reviews, system design reviews, integration planning, verification events, qualification, acceptance testing, field support or production system deployment. Experience with government labs, test organizations, Department of War / Department of Defense programs of record, acquisition programs, requirements development, technical reviews, test activities or fielding efforts. Free-space optical communications or Optical Communications Terminal integration experience. Robotics, automation, motion systems, industrial machinery, welding systems, seam tracking, wire feed, gas management or manufacturing system integration experience. Experience working with international engineering teams. Location and Travel This is a remote U.S.-based role. Preferred locations include Huntsville, Alabama, Albuquerque, New Mexico or other U.S. locations with strong defense, aerospace, directed energy or advanced systems activity. Expected travel is approximately 25–33%, with heavier travel expected during the first year. Initial travel may include customer sites, Civan application lab locations in Indiana and Idaho, and coordination with Civan’s engineering team in