Senior Optical Engineer, R&D

About the Role

Lead optical system design and technical investigations for a defense technology platform developing autonomous directed-energy systems. You will partner with mechanical and electrical engineers to turn optical designs into robust hardware.

What You'll Do

• Lead optical design and analysis for core system components.
• Run optical investigations and trade studies to guide system-level design decisions.
• Specify and evaluate optical components and subsystem architectures.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers on optical packaging, housing, and integration.
• Perform tolerance analysis, validate performance, and guide design iterations.
• Lead alignment, characterization, and testing of integrated optical systems.
• Work with vendors and fabricators on manufacturability, tolerancing, and feasibility.
• Establish best practices for optical development, validation, and technical documentation.

What We're Looking For

• 5 to 10 or more years of experience in optical engineering, optical design, or related physics-based systems work.
• Experience designing and analyzing optical systems built and operated as real hardware, including alignment, characterization, and hands-on debugging.
• Ability to lead optical investigations and trade studies, apply optical theory from first principles, and make system-level design decisions.
• Experience with optical component selection, vendor collaboration, tolerance analysis, and performance validation.
• Mechanical fluency for effective collaboration on packaging and integration.
• Experience with high-power laser optics, ruggedized beam delivery, beam directors, collimators, fast steering mirrors, adaptive optics, or laser communications is relevant.
• Familiarity with Zemax/OpticStudio or Code V and approximately 1 micron Yb fiber laser systems is useful.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in optical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, or a related field.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.