Lead Optical Engineer, High-Power Laser Systems

Directed Energy Professional Society; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Directed Energy Professional Society seeks a Senior Optical Engineer to lead design, analysis, and development of advanced optical systems for high‑power laser applications in a collaborative, ITAR‑compliant environment. You will interface with customers to ensure feasibility and guide cross‑functional teams through prototype to production stages.

The role requires expertise in micro‑optics, coherent beam combining, and phase control, with strong skills in Zemax, MATLAB, and Python.

Qualifications

• BS in Optics required; MS/PhD preferred.
• 7+ years in design, manufacture, and assembly of optical systems/optical components/micro‑optics.
• ITAR: US person required to access ITAR-controlled information.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, analysis, and development of advanced optical systems for high‑power laser applications.
• Interact with customers to assess optical design feasibility against specifications.
• Serve as optical design lead on cross‑functional projects with engineers from other disciplines.
• Source components/systems from external suppliers for prototypes and new products.
• Design optical systems, including micro‑optics, for various beam delivery configurations.
• Perform tolerance, athermal, and phase‑sensitivity analyses for military environments and CBC stability.
• Develop assembly methods for micro‑ and macro‑optical assemblies for prototypes and volume manufacturing.
• Design, configure, build, and validate optical test setups to verify performance (coherent combining efficiency, M^2, phase‑locking).
• Analyze test data and prepare reports for customers.

Skills

Micro-optics assembly

Coherent beam combining

Phase control

Interferometry basics

MATLAB

Python

Zemax

Education

BS in Optics

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

Zemax

Optical design software

Job description

Directed Energy Professional Society seeks a Senior Optical Engineer to lead design, analysis, and development of advanced optical systems for high‑power laser applications in a collaborative, ITAR‑compliant environment. You will interface with customers to ensure feasibility and guide cross‑functional teams through prototype to production stages.

The role requires expertise in micro‑optics, coherent beam combining, and phase control, with strong skills in Zemax, MATLAB, and Python.