Engineering Manager / Director - EO/IR & C5ISR Systems

Clear Align, LLC; Eagleville (PA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Clear Align is seeking an Engineering Manager/Director to lead a multidisciplinary team spanning optical, mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering on EO/IR and C5ISR projects for DoD and border security customers.

This hands-on leader will drive architecture, trade studies, and program execution, balance SWaP, ensure MIL-STD-810 compliance, manage budgets and schedules, and interface directly with government customers and prime contractors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Optical/Photonics, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years in EO/IR sensor systems, ISR, or related defense electronics; 3–5 years in leadership.
• Experience integrating multi-sensor systems with positioners, C2 software, and comms subsystems.
• Experience with government acquisition processes (RFI/RFP responses, technical proposals).
• Strong written and verbal communication; U.S. Person for ITAR compliance; ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a cross-functional engineering team (optical/EO, mechanical, electrical, software, systems).
• Set engineering standards, processes, and configuration management.
• Own hiring, performance management, and resource planning across engineering disciplines.
• Provide technical leadership for EO/IR and C5ISR integration; drive system performance analyses.
• Manage schedules, budgets, and deliverables across concurrent programs.
• Interface with government and prime contractors for requirements and demonstrations.

Skills

Leadership

Systems engineering

EO/IR

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Optical/Photonics, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Engineering Manager / Director - EO/IR & C5ISR Systems

Nashua, NH

Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance or have an Active Secret/TS clearance preferred.

Travel: Up to 15-20%, including customer sites, test ranges, and integration facilities

About the Role

We design, build, and integrate electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems and integrate full C5ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) surveillance solutions for military and border security customers. Our systems combine long-range thermal and visible cameras, laser rangefinders, radar, precision positioners, and AI-enabled command-and-control software into fielded, mission-ready towers and platforms operating in some of the most demanding environments in the world.

We are seeking an Engineering Manager/Director to lead our multidisciplinary engineering organization — spanning optical, mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering — from early concept through fielded, sustained deployment. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can manage people and programs while still being credible in system technical solutions, requirements development, design approach, system performance, and system analysis of alternatives.

Engineering Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and grow a cross-functional engineering team (optical/EO design, mechanical/positioner design, electrical/power, embedded and application software, and systems engineering).
• Set engineering standards, design processes, documentation discipline (SOSA/MOSA-aligned architecture, ISA compliance, configuration management).
• Own hiring, performance management, career development, and resource planning across engineering disciplines.
• Foster a culture of design rigor, root-cause problem solving, and field-reliability focus, given systems are deployed in extreme and remote environments.

Technical & Program Ownership

• Serve as technical authority for EO/IR sensor suite design (MWIR/LWIR thermal, SWIR, visible-day cameras), precision pan-tilt positioners, laser rangefinders, radar, and C2 integration.
• Drive systems engineering for full C5ISR integration: sensor fusion, video tracking/ATR, edge processing, power (solar/battery/hybrid), communications (MANET, satcom, cellular, fiber), and command-and-control (C2) software interoperability (e.g., TAK, OPTIC-class government C2 environments).
• Lead trade studies and architecture decisions balancing range performance, size/weight/power (SWaP), environmental survivability (temperature extremes, wind, salt fog, precipitation, dust), and lifecycle maintainability (LRU-based field repair).
• Experienced in troubleshooting of systems and EO/IR cameras.
• Lead technical proposal support for government RFIs/RFPs, including performance specifications, ROM costing input, and technical volume authorship.
• Interface directly with government and prime-contractor customers (DoD, DHS/CBP, and international partners) on requirements definition, technical exchanges, and test/demonstration events.

Program Execution & Quality

• Manage engineering schedules, budgets, and deliverables across concurrent development and sustainment programs.
• Ensure designs meet applicable military and environmental standards (MIL-STD-810 shock/vibration/environmental, IP-rated enclosures, EMI/EMC as applicable).
• Oversee test planning and execution, including range/field demonstrations in extreme environments (e.g., cold-weather Northern Border testing, desert, maritime).
• Own root-cause investigation and corrective action for system issues, feeding lessons learned back into design.
• Ensure compliance with applicable export control regulations (ITAR/EAR) and government cybersecurity/interface requirements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Program Management, Business Development/Capture, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to align engineering execution with contract and business commitments.
• Support proposal and capture activities with technical content, performance data, and system configuration recommendations.
• Represent Engineering in customer-facing reviews (PDR/CDR-style reviews, demonstrations, and technical interchange meetings).

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Optical/Photonics, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related field); (advanced degree preferred).
• 8+ years of engineering experience in EO/IR sensor systems, ISR, or related defense/security electronics, with at least 3–5 years in an engineering leadership or management role.
• Demonstrated experience integrating multi-sensor systems (EO/IR cameras, radar, laser rangefinders) with positioners, C2 software, and communications subsystems.
• Working knowledge of thermal imaging fundamentals (detector types, NETD, resolution/range performance, Johnson Criteria-based detect/recognize/identify analysis).
• Experience managing hardware and software engineering teams simultaneously, including embedded systems and edge AI/ATR processing.
• Familiarity with government acquisition processes (RFI/RFP response, technical proposal development, government test/demonstration events).
• Strong understanding of environmental qualification requirements (MIL-STD-810 or equivalent) for fielded defense/security hardware.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to government customers and senior leadership.
• U.S. Person status required for ITAR compliance; ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance as required by contract.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with border security, force protection, or counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems.
• Familiarity with MOSA/SOSA/ISA open-systems architecture standards.
• Experience integrating with government C2 systems (e.g., TAK, FAAD, or similar) and radar-cued detection/tracking pipelines.
• Experience with unmanned deployments.
• Prior participation in DoD/DHS demonstration events (e.g., JCO C-UAS demonstrations, CBP tower demonstrations).
• PMP, Six Sigma, or systems engineering (INCOSE/CSEP) certification.

At Clear Align we have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people come, stay and do their best work. We pride ourselves on bringing the best infrared surveillance solutions, and we know our company runs on the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees.