Laser Engineer - Directed Energy

Electro Optic Systems; Canberra; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Electro Optic Systems is seeking a hands-on Laser Engineer to advance our high energy laser sources. You will develop amplifier chains, pump architecture, and beam combining while working across lab, integration floors and range tests.

You will apply 3+ years of experience with high power laser systems, ensure safe Class 4 laser operation, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet demanding performance targets. Occasional travel to test sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Degree in physics, photonics, optical engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years hands-on experience with high power laser systems, fibre or bulk solid-state.
• Demonstrated competence aligning and safely operating Class 4 lasers (CW and pulsed).
• Experience with laser diagnostics: power meters, beam profilers, beam quality, wavefront sensors and optical spectrum analysers.
• Understanding of thermal and nonlinear effects limiting power scaling and mitigations.
• Clear technical writing and ability to explain results to engineers and non-specialists.
• Willingness to work in laboratory, integration floor and outdoors on ranges; travel to test ranges regularly.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, align and characterise high power laser sources and beam paths, including fibre amplifier chains and beam combining architectures.
• Specify and select laser components and lead technical exchanges with vendors.
• Characterise system performance including output power, beam quality and spectral content.
• Design and execute laboratory and range test campaigns with test plans and reports.
• Diagnose and resolve laser faults during integration and trials, including thermal effects and alignment drift.
• Collaborate with optical, mechanical, thermal, electrical and software teams to decompose requirements into subsystem specs.
• Support laser safety governance under AS/NZS IEC 60825, including hazard analysis and safe operating procedures.
• Produce and maintain design documentation within EOS engineering framework.

Skills

High power lasers

Laser safety

Laser diagnostics

Technical writing

Lab & field work

Travel readiness

Cross-disciplinary communication

Education

Degree in physics, photonics, optical engineering or related

Job description

We continually strive to help our workforce achieve their professional and personal goals, engaging them in challenging and inspiring projects.

EOS – Who are we?

EOS is a world leader in designing, developing and building advanced technology products and services for the global defence and space domains.

We develop and produce systems that can detect, identify, stabilise, control and communicate to inform strategic decision‑making.

EOS operates on the global stage and is a well‑established member of the international defence and space communities.

Find out more

What we do

EOS News

Job Summary

EOS is building our high energy laser weapon capability. The Directed Energy group develops and demonstrates laser systems in the tens to hundreds of kilowatts class for counter‑uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) and short range air defence roles, spanning the laser source, beam director, tracking and fire control, power and thermal management, and platform integration.

As a Laser Engineer you will work on the source itself: the amplifier chains, pump architecture, beam delivery and combining that turn electrical power into a militarily useful beam on target. You will spend your time between the laboratory, the integration floor and the range, and you will see your work fired at real targets rather than modelled indefinitely.

This is a hands‑on engineering role with genuine technical latitude, in a small team where the person who designs the subsystem is usually the person who aligns it, tests it and fixes it before a demonstration.

Every role in this team spends time in the field. Our systems are proven at the test range and on trial sites, and you will be there when that happens.

Primary Duties

The job plays a pivotal role in the design, build and performance of the high energy laser sources at the heart of every EOS directed energy product.

You will provide expertise in high power laser design, alignment, characterisation and power scaling, and in translating laser requirements into achievable subsystem specifications for the wider engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, align and characterise high power laser sources and beam paths, including fibre amplifier chains, pump modules and beam combining architectures.
• Specify and select laser components including gain fibre, diodes, isolators, collimators, gratings and coatings, and lead the technical exchange with vendors.
• Characterise system performance including output power, beam quality, spectral content, polarisation and stability across duty cycle and thermal soak.
• Design and execute laboratory and range test campaigns, producing test plans, procedures and result reports that stand up to customer and independent scrutiny.
• Diagnose and resolve laser faults during integration and trials, including thermal effects, optical damage, nonlinear effects, back-reflection and alignment drift.
• Work with the optical, mechanical, thermal, electrical and software teams to decompose laser requirements into subsystem specifications and interface definitions.
• Support laser safety governance under AS/NZS IEC 60825, including hazard analysis, nominal ocular hazard distance calculation, control measures and safe operating procedures.
• Produce and maintain design documentation, analysis and configuration records within the EOS systems engineering framework.

Experience

Essential:

• Degree in physics, photonics, optical engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of hands‑on experience with high power laser systems, fibre or bulk solid‑state.
• Demonstrated competence aligning and safely operating Class 4 lasers, continuous wave and pulsed.
• Practical experience with laser diagnostics including power meters, beam profilers, beam quality measurement, wavefront sensors and optical spectrum analysers.
• Working understanding of the thermal and nonlinear effects that limit power scaling, and of the mitigations available.
• Clear technical writing and the ability to explain results to engineers from other disciplines and to non‑specialist stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in the laboratory, on the integration floor and outdoors on a range in variable conditions.
• Willingness to travel to the test range and trial sites regularly, including periods of out‑of‑hours work around demonstration campaigns.

Highly Regarded:

• Postgraduate qualification in laser physics, photonics or a related field.
• Experience with spectral or coherent beam combining of multiple laser channels.
• Familiarity with AS/NZS IEC 60825 and AS 2243.5, or qualification as a Laser Safety Officer.
• Prior involvement in high energy laser or other directed energy programmes.