Senior Electrical Engineer - Defense

nLIGHT; Camas (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Health benefits starting first month

Paid time off

Stock options

Disability & Life Insurance

Education reimbursement

Job summary

nLIGHT, Inc. in Camas, WA is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to advance high‑power laser electronics for harsh environments. You will design SMPS controllers, develop SPICE and SIMPLIS models, and drive safe high‑voltage implementations from concept through production.

Join a multidisciplinary team delivering cutting‑edge directed energy systems with strict reliability standards and a strong focus on thermal management, board design, and compliance to MIL‑STD and IEC safety requirements.

Qualifications

• 7+ years as an Electrical Engineer or equivalent background.
• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field.
• Experience creating SPICE simulations that drive design decisions.
• Experience calculating thermal losses in magnetics/semiconductors.
• Experience with SIMPLIS models to guide converters and loops
• Experience designing galvanic isolation for HV topologies.

Responsibilities

• Create SIMPLIS circuit models of existing SMPS converters.
• Create SPICE simulations for analog circuits and device models.
• Propose trade studies and develop concept models for next-gen designs.
• Experiment to qualify designs; benchmark electrical/thermal performance.
• Design PCBA, power delivery systems, and safety circuits.
• Manage certification to IEC/UL and MIL-STD standards.

Skills

SPICE simulations

SIMPLIS models

Loop shaping

High voltage design

PCB/PCBA design

Power electronics

Thermal analysis

Schematic capture

Lab testing

Education

BS or MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Job description

Who We Are

At nLIGHT, we are constantly on the cutting-edge of laser technology in a massively growing market. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made, but also changing the things that can be made.

Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).

The Directed Energy team develops cutting-edge, highly SWaP optimized laser and electro-optical systems for the defense market. Our systems are integrated into MIL-STD high-voltage vehicle power systems, and our electronics are responsible for ensuring that every electron gets turned into a photon as efficiently and safely as possible all while packing into as small a volume as possible. We work as a multidisciplinary team with the focus on supporting production and new product introduction of complex laser systems.

We are currently seeking a Sr. Electrical Engineer to join the Directed Energy Electronics team and contribute expertise in power electronics development and production. This individual will support existing low-SWaP multi-kilowatt high-voltage designs, develop next-generation SMPS laser diode driver technologies and has experience building high-reliability hardware for deployment in harsh environments at any altitude.

Job Description

• Create functional SIMPLIS circuit analysis models of existing SMPS converters
• Create SPICE simulations for analog circuitry and device equivalent circuits
• Propose suggestions and execute trade studies for next-gen converter designs. Develop concept models for these designs
• Execute engineering experimentation to qualify new designs and/or processes Characterize and benchmark electrical and thermal performance of existing converter designs and identify areas for improvement
• Participate in peer design reviews
• Design PCBAs, custom magnetics, power delivery systems, and safety circuits as needed to advance the state-of-the-art of directed energy laser products
• Formulate and produce complete electrical design packages including detailed schematics, PCB layout, cable routing diagrams, panel layouts, bills of materials and material requisition forms
• Manage certification and compliance testing to international safety and EMC standards such as IEC/UL-61010, MIL-STD 461, MIL-STD 704, MIL-STD 1275
• Become a thought-leader in establishing safe high-voltage practices both in designs and laboratory work

Qualification

• 7+ years’ experience as an Electrical Engineer or equivalent educational background
• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or similar discipline
• Experience creating meaningful SPICE simulations that drive design decisions
• Experience calculating thermal losses for magnetics and semiconductor devices and collaborating with mechanical teams on cooling strategies
• Experience using SIMPLIS models to compensate converters and guide loop-shaping in both analog and digital domains
• Experience designing galvanic isolation for high-voltage topologies
• Familiarity with power systems and high-voltage harness design
• Commitment to Excellence. Attention to Detail. Pride in Workmanship
• Effectively manage schedule and priorities with minimal daily direction
• Experience in power systems and batteries – power electronics and power conditioning
• Strong troubleshooting skills related to complex electro-optic systems
• Experience with schematic capture and layout tools (Altium Designer preferred)
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with clear and professional written and oral communication skills
• Highly proficient with test and measurement equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, LC meters, DC biased spectroscopy measurements, loop characterization, Bode plots and HIL tools

Exceptional candidates will have:

• Demonstrated track record of designing electronics deployed in harsh environments, including space, and working with effects of extreme temperature, radiation and moisture ingress
• Familiarity with conductive electronics cooling techniques
• Vendor management experience
• Development experience with high-power laser and optical assemblies
• Experience qualifying systems to complex MIL-STDs

nLIGHT is proud to offer comprehensive COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Starting pay depends on qualifications:

• Senior Electrical Engineer: $110,000 - $145,000 annually

Other Compensation and Benefits

• Target Cash Bonus of 6% of earned wages
• Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants
• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
• 10 paid Holidays
• Eligible for health benefits on the 1st day of the month after your start date
• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits, including prescription and orthodontia with employee-paid premiums as low as $40.00 per pay period
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Aflac Supplemental Insurance
• Paid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance

nLIGHT is subject to US Export Control regulations. To qualify for this position, you must be a US Person (that is, a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual granted asylum or refugee status).

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

For more information, please review the following notices:

• E-Verify Participation Poster
• Right to Work Poster

E-Verify Participation: nLIGHT participates in the E-Verify program. This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.