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.