Solid State Laser Engineer (DOD/R&D/Space)

NSS; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

NSS in Herndon, VA is seeking a Solid State Laser Engineer to join a small-team environment and contribute to development, integration, and test of advanced laser systems. The role is onsite full-time in Herndon, supporting missions in space exploration and national security.

Candidates should have a BS in Physics or Optical Engineering, 4+ years hands-on laser experience, and proficiency with diode-pumped solid-state laser technology and tools like MATLAB, MathCAD, and Zemax.

Qualifications

• BS Physics or Optical Engineering is required.
• MS is preferred; 6+ years experience favored.
• Experience with diode pumped solid state lasers is required.
• Strong documentation and communication skills.
• US citizenship required; Green Card considered case-by-case.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with mechanical/electrical engineers to build laser systems.
• Support design, analysis, assembly, integration and test.
• Coordinate laser resonator alignment and performance characterization.
• Participate in customer interactions and formal reviews.

Skills

Laser design

Test & characterization

Optical engineering

DPSL experience

MATLAB

Zemax

Documentation

Teamwork

Education

BS: Physics/Optical Eng

MS: Physics/Optical Eng

Tools

MATLAB

MathCAD

Zemax

Job description

• Herndon, VA

Are you looking to work with a multidisciplinary team on cutting edge R&D that directly impacts space exploration, communication infrastructure, and our national security?? We are currently in need of a Solid State Laser Engineer! This is a permanent position, located onsite full time in Herndon, VA, directly supporting a seasoned company that has been at the forefront of innovation within this space for the past 3 decades!

In this role, you will gain experience in many aspects in the field of optics at all phases of the engineering design process. You will support the development, integration, and test of advanced laser systems.

The successful candidate will thrive in a small-company environment (that means fewer levels of managers), have direct hands-on experience with diode pumped solid state lasers operating in the UV/VIS/IR wavelengths, willing to ask questions and has a passion for development of the next generation tech for novel applications like space communications and Lidars.

Essential Job Duties:

• Work with a team of mechanical and electrical engineers to build a unique packaged system that can withstand wide temperature operation or high vibrational loads. (The workload will at times include multiple concurrent projects with a mix of short duration research programs and longer duration technology maturation programs).
• Contribute to the engineering development of unique laser designs through design analysis, component specification, and hardware assembly, integration and test
• Coordinate and support the build, alignment, and performance characterization of laser resonators, amplifiers, non-linear frequency conversion modules and receiver components
• Participate in customer interactions including formal technical reviews

Required experience and expertise:

• BS Physics or Optical Engineering desired.
• 4+ years of direct hands-on laser experience including design, building, characterizing laser systems
• Knowledge of the laser theory and industry best practices associated with diode pumped solid state laser systems including continuous wave lasers, Q-Switched lasers, single-frequency injection locked lasers, electrical and thermal sub-systems
• Ability to design and execute experiments validating laser system performance and correlate the results with the expected performance
• Strong communication and documentation skills for efficient multidisciplinary communication
• US citizenship required, Geen card holder considered on a case-by-case basis
• Experience with modeling and simulation of laser systems industry standard tools, i.e. Matlab, MathCAD, Zemax or equivalent software tools
• Ability to develop innovative solutions to complex laser challenges demonstrating ingenuity and creativity

Preferred experience and expertise:

• MS in Physics or Optical Engineering. 6+ years of direct hands-on laser experience including design, building, characterizing laser systems
• Proven demonstrated experience with complex laser theory and industry best practices associated with diode pumped solid state laser systems including continuous wave lasers, Q-Switched lasers, single-frequency injection locked lasers, electrical and thermal sub-systems
• Comfortable presenting ideas, findings, obstacles to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience supporting programs within R&D laboratories in both an academic and government environment.