Laser Systems Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Solid-State Laser Engineer / Technical Lead

Location: Herndon, VA 20171
Salary: $150,000–$210,000 annually

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Solid-State Laser Engineer / Technical Lead to lead the design, modeling, development, and testing of advanced solid-state laser systems for aerospace and defense applications.

The ideal candidate will have deep technical expertise in solid-state lasers and laser modeling , with a combination of hands-on laboratory experience and the ability to design and model laser systems from customer specifications. This position also provides the opportunity to lead technical programs, mentor engineers, and support the development of airborne and space-based laser systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, model, build, test, and troubleshoot advanced solid-state laser systems , including oscillators, MOPA architectures, OPO/OPA systems, narrow-linewidth lasers, and frequency-conversion systems.
• Perform laser energetics modeling to determine whether proposed designs will meet customer requirements for energy, power, repetition rate, and overall performance.
• Perform optical and system modeling using tools such as Zemax, MATLAB, Mathcad, Python, or similar engineering software .
• Lead laser cavity design, gain modeling, thermal analysis, nonlinear optics, frequency conversion, and system-level performance analysis.
• Serve as the technical lead for laser development programs, taking projects from requirements and initial design through testing and qualification.
• Participate in formal aerospace program milestones, including SRR, PDR, and CDR .
• Troubleshoot laser systems in the laboratory when actual performance does not meet modeled or expected results.
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, systems, manufacturing, and optical engineering teams throughout system development.
• Lead technical design reviews, identify technical risks, develop solutions, and provide design approval/sign-off as appropriate.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians and provide technical direction to project teams.
• Support customer meetings, technical presentations, and government or aerospace program reviews.
• Contribute to the development of reliable laser systems capable of operating in demanding airborne and space environments .

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering , or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant solid-state laser development experience; level of experience may vary based on education.
• Strong experience with both hands-on laser development and laser design/modeling .
• Demonstrated experience with laser energetics modeling , beyond basic optical ray tracing.
• Experience designing or modeling high-power/high-energy lasers, MOPA systems, nonlinear frequency conversion, OPO/OPA architectures, or similar technologies.
• Proficiency with Zemax and/or other engineering and modeling tools such as MATLAB, Mathcad, or Python.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex laser performance issues in a laboratory environment.
• Experience leading technical projects, engineering teams, or multidisciplinary development efforts.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Highly desirable experience includes LIDAR laser development, DPSS systems, airborne or space-based laser design, environmental qualification, thermal/vibration/vacuum considerations, radiation environments, DoD or aerospace programs, and taking laser systems from concept through flight qualification.

\nCompany Description

Company Description