Senior Optical Engineer

Senior Optical Design EngineerWe're looking for a Senior Optical Design Engineer to take true end-to-end ownership of critical optical subsystems—from first sketch and simulation, through prototyping and test, all the way to production hardware flying on mission-critical platforms. This isn't a role where you hand off your design and wait to hear how it went. You'll be in the lab aligning it, in the design review defending it, and in the field watching it perform. If you want your optics work to matter—not just on paper, but in systems that ship—this is that role.What This Role OwnsLead the design, modeling, and tolerance analysis of complex multi-element optical systems, from concept through final release. Develop and validate optical architectures for laser-based and imaging systems. Own optical performance budgets and run trade studies across SWaP, cost, reliability, and manufacturability, balancing physics with what's actually buildable. Build, test, and troubleshoot prototypes through flight and production hardware, hands-on. Partner across disciplines - Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing - to ensure clean system integration. Drive technical design reviews and mentor junior optical engineers, shaping both the technical outcome and the next generation of optical talent on the team. Support the transition of optical designs from R&D into production, closing the gap between "it works in the lab" and "it works at scale".Candidate ProfileMust-Haves9+ years of experience in optical design, with direct work in nanophotonics, metasurface design, or optical phased arrays. Background in optical compute, laser communications, or 4D lidar, or a closely adjacent field. Strong laser system and laser-based architecture experience. Hands-on experience taking optical designs from prototype through production. US citizenship with eligibility for clearance. Willing and able to work on-site full time. Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.Also Great to HaveExperience supporting defense or aerospace programs. Hands-on experience with optical testing, alignment, and metrology. Prior technical leadership or mentorship experience.Why This RoleYou'll have real ownership, real impact, and real hardware to point to. This is a chance to work at the leading edge of optical engineering, on systems that push the boundaries of what's possible in defense and aerospace, surrounded by a team that moves fast, cares deeply about getting the physics right, and wants to build things that actually fly.