Laser Sensing Systems Principal Engineer

Optics 1; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Optics 1 in Camarillo, California seeks a Laser Sensing Systems Principal Engineer for a high-impact role within their laser sensing product line. This position requires a technical leader with expertise in electro-optical systems and substantial experience in defense applications.

The ideal candidate will guide design decisions, engage with customers, and support product development from concept to prototype while mentoring engineering teams and troubleshooting complex systems.

This is a unique opportunity for individuals looking to make significant contributions in a cutting-edge field.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of hands-on engineering experience in defense or industrial environments.
• Experience leading customer-facing reviews and technical engagements.
• Proven ability to manage complex system requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for laser sensing products and systems.
• Lead design, integration, testing, and troubleshooting efforts.
• Mentor engineers and promote best engineering practices.

Skills

Electro-optical systems development

Laser sensing systems integration

Technical proposal authoring

Communication skills

System-level troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Simulation tools

Signal analysis tools

Job description

Laser Sensing Systems Principal Engineer

Location: Camarillo, CA, US, 93012

Position Profile

The Laser Sensing Systems Principal Engineer is a high-impact individual contributor role carrying broad technical authority across Attollo's laser sensing product line and adjacent EO/IR technology development. This is not a management role; it is a technical leadership role for an engineer who solves hard problems, mentors teams, engages customers, and gets their hands on hardware. Approximately 40% of the role is external facing (customer engagement, proposals, capture support); 60% is internal (design reviews, lab troubleshooting, mentorship, technical direction).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for laser sensing products, guiding system design, quality, and technical risk decisions.
• Lead the design, integration, testing, and troubleshooting of complex electro-optical systems.
• Provide hands‑on engineering support, including hardware assembly, system integration, and laboratory troubleshooting.
• Translate customer requirements into system‑level solutions across optical, electrical, mechanical, firmware, and software disciplines.
• Drive resolution of complex technical challenges and lead key design and technical reviews.
• Serve as a technical lead with customers, supporting proposals, business development efforts, and industry engagements.
• Mentor engineers, promote engineering best practices, and strengthen organizational technical capabilities.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies and lead product development from concept through prototyping.
• Align product strategy with program execution to support customer success and business growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you’ll need to be successful

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or closely related technical discipline.
• 10–15+ years of progressive, hands‑on engineering experience in defense or industrial electro‑optical systems development; significant time at small‑to‑mid‑size companies where wearing multiple hats was expected.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills — comfortable authoring technical proposal sections, leading customer‑facing reviews, and presenting to mixed technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrated full development lifecycle ownership: concept and requirements through design, integration, qualification, production support, and field issues.
• Direct experience as technical lead or POC with defense primes, mid‑tier integrators, and/or government laboratory customers.
• Extensive experience developing and integrating laser sensing systems, including rangefinders, LIDAR, optical proximity sensors, and related electro‑optical technologies.
• Strong knowledge of laser sources, optical receivers, detector technologies, signal processing, and laser safety standards.
• Familiarity with engineering tools standard to EO/IR systems development (simulation, signal analysis, or design review tools as applicable to the role).
• Working expertise in supporting electronics, including analog circuitry, high‑speed timing, FPGA‑based processing, and system‑level troubleshooting.
• Proven ability to define, manage, and negotiate complex system requirements across optical, electrical, mechanical, and environmental domains.
• Strong understanding of IR imaging systems, sensor architectures, image processing, and defense imaging applications.
• Experience with industry‑standard sensor interfaces and communication protocols, including SPI, I²C, UART, Ethernet, CameraLink, and MIL‑STD‑1553.
• Solid foundation in optical design principles and the ability to evaluate system performance and design trade‑offs.
• Knowledge of environmental qualification standards and regulatory requirements applicable to defense and aerospace systems, including MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑461, and ITAR/EAR.
• Current or ability to obtain US DoD Secret Security Clearance.

Ideally you’ll also have

• Master’s degree or PhD in a related discipline.
• Active US DoD Security Clearance.
• Direct experience with handheld target locator modules, laser target designators, fire control systems, guided munition seekers, or proximity fuzing.
• Experience leading or contributing to SBIR/STTR or other government R&D proposals.
• Experience with time‑of‑flight or signal processing architectures.
• Direct experience with laser safety classification, eye‑safety analysis, and certification.
• Experience working in an ITAR environment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Nearest Major Market: Ventura
Nearest Secondary Market: Oxnard