Lead Mission Readiness Engineer

Location: Longmont, CO (onsite)

Experience: 10+ years of experience

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical field.

Compensation: $160,000-$210,000 depending on experience.

Travel: Project/Program-based travel required; estimated at 50%

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:

The Mission Readiness Lead Engineer is responsible for developing and maintaining 1) an operationally ready team designed to facilitate field testing/deployment 2) a rich training plan for teaching the end user how to effectively operate and maintain HADES systems. As part of the HADES Product Line Management organization, this role serves as the critical link between operational users, and internal engineering teams to ensure that feedback from the field helps inform the HADES product line’s continuous improvement.

You will build and lead the organization’s Mission Readiness capability, serving as the primary interface between operational users and internal engineering teams. Through close partnership with military operators, you will ensure systems are successfully integrated into operational environments through testing, training, deployment planning, and field support. You will translate operational insight into actionable product requirements while validating that new capabilities are employable, supportable, and ready for fielding. Your team closes the loop between customer operations and engineering by converting field experience into continuous improvements across the product line.

Success is measured by the frictionless transition of capabilities from development into operational use, the effectiveness of customer training and field support, the quality of operational feedback incorporated into the product roadmap, and the readiness of systems for sustained deployment.

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: Please review this information before applying.

Responsibilities:

Operations

• Lead the transition of new capabilities from development to operational use through planning, testing, validation, and fielding.
• Define and refine operational readiness criteria, proactively identifying technical and operational risks.
• Direct field evaluations, demonstrations, and customer exercises to validate system performance in real-world environments.

Training

• Develop training programs, operational documentation, and employment guidance that enable confident system operation and sustainment.
• Serve as the primary liaison between users and engineering teams, strengthening trust across the customer community.
• Support deployed systems through customer engagement, troubleshooting, and mission execution.

Evaluation

• Convert operational observations into actionable product requirements and collaborate with Technical Operations to mature future capabilities.
• Build repeatable processes that integrate testing, training, deployment, and customer feedback into a continuous improvement cycle.
• Establish and lead a Mission Readiness organization focused on operational excellence, customer advocacy, and mission-driven execution.
• Oversee management and tasking of the Mission Readiness Group.

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.
• Experience planning, executing, and evaluating developmental and operational field testing in representative environments.
• Experience integrating multidisciplinary hardware and software systems into operational capabilities while identifying and resolving technical and operational issues.
• Strong technical writing skills, including development of training materials, operational procedures, test plans, and/or after-action reports.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with military operators, government customers, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams in formal or informal leadership roles, fostering collaboration, accountability, and mission execution.
• Ability to translate operational observations and customer feedback into actionable product improvements and system requirements.

Additional Desired Experience / Capability:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver technical training, operational instruction, and user enablement programs.
• Experience supporting U.S. Department of Defense programs, military operations, or defense acquisition activities.
• Experience developing and delivering technical and operational training programs.
• Experience with developmental test, operational test, or field experimentation activities.
• Experience transitioning prototype or developmental systems into operational use.
• Experience with prototype hardware/software.
• Familiarity with systems engineering, requirements management, and product development processes.
• Military service or direct experience supporting military operations.

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 View email address on click.appcast.io .