Manager, Electro-Optical Engineering

nLIGHT • Longmont, CO

10d • $150,000 - $200,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As an Electro-Optical (EO) Engineering Manager at nLIGHT DEFENSE Systems, you would be responsible for leading the people, processes, and technical execution that enable the successful development, integration, test, and delivery of advanced electro-optical systems. As an EO Engineering Manager, you will combine strong technical leadership with functional management responsibilities, serving as both an engineering leader and a hands-on contributor to complex development programs.
This role requires an experienced engineer who can guide and develop teams across all levels of seniority while simultaneously contributing to system architecture, technical problem-solving, integration planning, and customer engagement. You will establish technical direction, drive engineering excellence, allocate resources across programs, and ensure the professional development and success of your team.
EO Engineering Managers are expected to build high-performing teams capable of designing, integrating, and delivering High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon Systems, Beam Control Systems (BCS), and other advanced electro-optical solutions. This role serves as a critical link between engineering execution, program leadership, and organizational strategy.
All applicants must possess or be qualified to obtain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Preference will be given to candidates with an existing U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Further information on requirements to obtain a security clearance is available at: https://www.dcsa.mil/mc/pv/mbi/gicp/.

Requirements

• Commitment to Excellence. Attention to Detail. Pride in Workmanship.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing technical teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to build strong working relationships across engineering disciplines, programs, operations, and executive leadership.
• Proven experience balancing technical leadership, personnel management, and business objectives.
• Strong organizational, planning, prioritization, and resource management skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with engineers, executives, customers, and government representatives.
• Advanced problem-solving capability with the ability to make sound decisions using technical, programmatic, and business considerations.
• Significant experience with the design, integration, test, and troubleshooting of electro-optical and laser systems.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering efforts involving optics, mechanics, electronics, firmware, software, and controls.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles including requirements development, interface management, verification, validation, and risk management.
• Experience developing technical roadmaps, staffing plans, and organizational capability growth strategies.
• Experience reviewing and approving technical documentation, reports, analyses, procedures, and customer-facing deliverables.
• Ability to assess technical performance, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions where required.
• Working knowledge of engineering tools and environments including MATLAB, LabVIEW, and software-controlled electro-optical systems.
• Must possess or be qualified to obtain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing engineering teams supporting High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, Beam Control Systems (BCS), or Directed Energy programs.
• System-level understanding of electro-optical architectures, acquisition, pointing and tracking systems, and beam control technologies.
• Experience with engineering organizations operating in both development and production environments.
• Exposure to engineering budgeting, capital planning, and laboratory infrastructure management.
• Experience supporting business development, proposals, customer demonstrations, and technology roadmaps.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810 qualification testing, environmental testing, and ruggedized system development.
• Experience implementing engineering process improvements, design review practices, and configuration management disciplines.
• Experience leading root cause and corrective action investigations for technical and programmatic issues.
• Experience with Adaptive Optics (AO), advanced tracking systems, or related defense technologies.
• Exposure to model-based engineering, digital engineering, or advanced simulation environments.
• Experience working with classified programs and government customers.
• Advanced knowledge of optical alignment, opto-mechanical integration, thermal management, and laser safety practices.
• Existing U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and further develop a team of early career, mid-level, and senior Electro-Optical Engineers, providing technical mentorship, performance coaching, career development, and functional leadership.
• Establish and drive the technical direction, engineering standards, best practices, and development methodologies for the Electro-Optical Engineering organization.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership for the design, development, integration, test, and deployment of High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon Systems, Beam Control Systems (BCS), and other advanced electro-optical systems.
• Serve as a senior technical authority for system architecture, requirements flow-down, interface management, verification planning, system performance optimization, and complex troubleshooting activities.
• Manage engineering resources, staffing priorities, and workload allocation across multiple programs, proposals, and strategic initiatives.
• Partner with Program Managers, Engineering leaders, and business leaders to balance technical, schedule, cost, and performance objectives while identifying and mitigating program risks.
• Serve as a key customer-facing technical leader, supporting design reviews, technical presentations, field testing, demonstrations, and program execution activities.

Benefits

• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
• 11 paid Holidays
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Health (ACA Gold Plan), Vision and Dental Care paid by employer 100% for Employee and 75% for Dependents
• Paid Family Leave, Short and Long Term Disability paid by employer 100%
• Competitive 401k with company match and immediate vesting

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level