Senior Software Engineer - Directed Energy

Electro Optic Systems; Australia; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) invites a senior engineer to own real-time software architecture for our Directed Energy program in Australia. You will lead the development of real-time control software for laser, beam director and enclosure subsystems, focusing on reliability, safety interlocks and field deployment.

You will mentor engineers, drive code standards and documentation, and participate in trials at test ranges, including occasional after-hours work during demonstrations.

Qualifications

• Degree in software engineering, CS, electrical engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years producing production software; at least 3 in real-time or embedded control.
• Expert level modern C++ on Linux, including concurrency, memory management and performance profiling.
• Demonstrated experience interfacing software to physical hardware and diagnosing problems crossing hardware/software boundaries.
• Working understanding of control theory as applied to servo and tracking loops.
• Disciplined use of version control, CI, automated testing and code review within a team.
• Experience producing software documentation to a standard acceptable to a defence customer.
• Willingness to travel to the test range and trial sites regularly, including periods of out-of-hours work around demonstrations campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop real-time control and coordination software for the laser, beam director and enclosure subsystems in modern C++ on Linux.
• Implement and tune closed loop control for tracking, pointing, beam stabilisation and power and thermal regulation, working alongside control systems engineering.
• Own the software architecture for safety interlocks, arming logic, state machines and fail-safe behaviour, and hold the line on their integrity.
• Develop drivers and interfaces to sensors, actuators, motion controllers and laser subsystems over Ethernet, CAN and fieldbus links.
• Establish and maintain automated build, test and deployment pipelines, and lead code review and static analysis practice.
• Lead software verification through unit, integration and hardware-in-the-loop testing, and produce the evidence needed for acceptance.
• Mentor engineers, set and enforce coding standards, and own the software design documentation and interface control documents.
• Support integration, trials and fault diagnosis at the test range, including out-of-hours support during demonstration campaigns.

Skills

Real-time control

C++ on Linux

Embedded software

Hardware interfacing

Software verification

Education

Software/EE degree

Tools

Linux

CAN

Ethernet

Fieldbus

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.

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.

This is the software that closes the loop: acquiring and tracking a small, fast, manoeuvring target, holding a beam on a specific point of it, and coordinating the laser, beam director, power and thermal subsystems safely while doing so. Timing matters, failure modes matter, and the interlock logic is not negotiable.

As the senior engineer in this area you will own the architecture, set the standard for how it is built and tested, and mentor the engineers working alongside you.

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 real-time behaviour, safety and reliability of EOS directed energy systems.

You will provide expertise in real-time control software architecture, hardware interfacing, closed loop implementation and software verification for a system that must behave predictably under time pressure.

• Design and develop real-time control and coordination software for the laser, beam director and enclosure subsystems in modern C++ on Linux.
• Implement and tune closed loop control for tracking, pointing, beam stabilisation and power and thermal regulation, working alongside control systems engineering.
• Own the software architecture for safety interlocks, arming logic, state machines and fail-safe behaviour, and hold the line on their integrity.
• Develop drivers and interfaces to sensors, actuators, motion controllers and laser subsystems over Ethernet, serial, CAN and fieldbus links.
• Establish and maintain automated build, test and deployment pipelines, and lead code review and static analysis practice.
• Lead software verification through unit, integration and hardware-in-the-loop testing, and produce the evidence needed for acceptance.
• Mentor engineers, set and enforce coding standards, and own the software design documentation and interface control documents.
• Support integration, trials and fault diagnosis at the test range, including out-of-hours support during demonstration campaigns.

Experience

Essential:

• Degree in software engineering, computer science, electrical engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years developing production software, including at least 3 in real-time or embedded control.
• Expert level modern C++ on Linux, including concurrency, memory management and performance profiling.
• Demonstrated experience interfacing software to physical hardware and diagnosing problems that cross the hardware and software boundary.
• Working understanding of control theory as applied to servo and tracking loops.
• Disciplined use of version control, continuous integration, automated testing and code review within a team.
• Experience producing software documentation to a standard acceptable to a defence customer.
• Willingness to travel to the test range and trial sites regularly, including periods of out-of-hours work around demonstration campaigns.

Highly regarded:

• Experience with real-time Linux, Xenomai or a commercial RTOS.
• Exposure to gimbal control, electro-optic tracking or fire control systems.
• Familiarity with functional safety practice for hazardous energy systems.
• Python for tooling, analysis and test automation.