Senior Optical Engineer

About Applied Energetics

Applied Energetics is redefining the state of the art in ultrashort pulse laser and directed energy technologies for defense and national security applications. Guided by our vision, "Directed Energy, Anywhere", we build compact, high-performance systems that protect the warfighter and enable decisive advantages across the modern battlespace.

Why This Role Matters

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Optical Engineer to play a key role in the design, development, testing, and integration of advanced beam directors and optical control systems with the lasers that power our next generation directed energy systems. In this role you will be part of our multidisciplinary engineering team executing our mission by pioneering scalable ultrashort pulse directed energy solutions that defend and secure our nation's future.

What You'll Do

• Design, model, and optimize optical subsystems that include beam train assemblies; beam directors; and beam steering, pointing, and stabilization systems.
• Evaluate and compare designs through tolerance and sensitivity analysis to optimize the system for performance, stability, and ruggedness.
• Collaborate with control systems and software teams to implement precision beam pointing, stabilization, and tracking mechanisms.
• Develop designs to integrate gimbal mounts, fast steering mirrors, deformable mirrors, and mechatronic actuators into the beam delivery system.
• Integrate optical sensors such as cameras, position sensors, wavefront sensors, etc. into tracking and control systems.
• Develop optical techniques for target acquisition, tracking, and image-based beam control.
• Work alongside software engineers to develop and integrate advanced tracking methods using machine vision and AI/ML algorithms.
• Build R&D breadboards, assemble prototypes, and test and characterize their performance to validate the optical and system design.
• Work with other optical engineers to integrate optical subsystems into the overall platform by aligning the subsystems and validating their performance.
• Troubleshooting optical issues during engineering, prototyping, field testing, and release to production.
• Develop alignment strategies, procedures, and documentation to enable efficient, consistent, and repeatable manufacture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years' experience in optical engineering, or closely related disciplines.
• Hands-on experience with the design and constructions of beam directors and optical control systems.
• Extensive experience with high accuracy beam steering and target tracking.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of laser beam propagation and optical system design in general, and specifically high energy, ultrashort pulse beam delivery.
• Experience using software tools for modelling optical systems such as Zemax, OpticStudio, Code V, LightTools, etc.
• Demonstrated laboratory skills with opto-mechanical setups, optical alignment techniques, and diagnostic tools and equipment.
• An understanding of component and sub-system performance under various environmental conditions and the combined effect on system-level performance.
• S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with ultrashort pulse lasers.
• Experience designing laser cavities and laser systems, and nonlinear optics.
• Experience working in DoD or aerospace systems development environments.

Your Toolkit

• The ability to use simulation tools to develop optical models that accurately describe real-world systems.
• Strong hands-on experimental skills.
• Innovative thinking with solid analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced engineering environment with evolving requirements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to translate and explain complex ideas to non-experts.
• The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineers.
• Demonstrate AE's core values of Trust, Innovation, Quality, Agility, and Bold Leadership.

Why Join Applied Energetics?

• Work on breakthrough directed energy systems at the frontier of defense innovation.
• Help shape next-generation beam directors and optical architectures for critical DoD missions.
• Collaborate with a world-class team pushing the limits of laser science and engineering.
• Competitive salary, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits including Medical, Dental, and Vision, PTO, Federal Holidays, Personal Holidays, Tuition/Loan Reimbursement and others.

How to Apply

Please apply on our company website Job Listings - Applied Energetics, Inc Jobs

Applied Energetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination.

We comply with all applicable federal and state employment laws prohibiting discrimination and will administer all personnel actions in a nondiscriminatory manner.