Optical Engineer for Directed Energy

The Mitre Corporation•McLean, VA

10d•$156,400 - $234,600•Onsite

About The Position

MITRE is seeking an optics expert to support work on optical warfare, with a focus on directed-energy high-power laser systems and their enabling technologies. The role is part of the Chemical and Optical Sciences Department within the Emerging Technologies Innovation Center. The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise with the ability to identify emerging sponsor needs, develop new work, lead multidisciplinary teams, and build trusted relationships across government, industry, academia, national laboratories, and research organizations. The position encompasses physics-based modeling and simulation, system analysis, laboratory and field-representative testbed development, experimental validation, technology assessment, and transition planning. The candidate will advise government sponsors, support technical strategy and investment decisions, provide technical oversight, help grow work programs, and communicate findings to technical and nontechnical audiences. The role requires at least four days per week on-site, periodic travel, and an active Top Secret U.S. Government security clearance; the hired candidate must have or obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance within one year of hire.

Requirements

Typically, at least 10 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree, 8 years with a master's degree, or 5 years with a Ph.D.
Degree in Physics, Engineering, or a related field.
Demonstrated technical leadership of multidisciplinary research, engineering, modeling, test, or prototype-development efforts.
Strong knowledge of several high-power laser system elements, such as laser sources, beam quality, beam propagation, atmospheric turbulence, adaptive optics, beam control, pointing and tracking, optical materials and coatings, thermal management, power systems, or laser-system integration.
Experience developing, using, or technically overseeing physics-based models and simulations for complex optical, laser, or directed-energy systems.
Understanding of model verification and validation, experimental design, uncertainty analysis, sensitivity analysis, and responsible interpretation of modeling and test results.
Experience designing, integrating, or operating laboratory test equipment, optical experiments, prototype systems, hardware-in-the-loop environments, or field-representative testbeds.
Ability to translate mission or operational needs into technical objectives, analytical approaches, experimental plans, and measurable performance criteria.
Experience working directly with government sponsors, senior technical leaders, program managers, operational stakeholders, or acquisition organizations.
Ability to evaluate technologies objectively, identify critical technical risks, and communicate the potential and limitations of emerging capabilities.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including preparation of technical reports, proposals, decision briefings, and presentations for technical and nontechnical audiences.
Commitment to technical rigor, research integrity, public-interest service, responsible experimentation, and safe execution of laser-related activities.
Ability and willingness to travel periodically to sponsor locations, government laboratories, industry facilities, test sites, and technical conferences.
Must have an active Top Secret U.S. Government-issued security clearance and be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government-issued security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for security-clearance eligibility.
Must work on-site a minimum of four days per week.

Nice To Haves

Experience integrating models from multiple technical domains into system-level simulations or digital engineering environments.
Experience developing hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, or operator-in-the-loop test environments.
Experience planning or executing tests at government ranges, outdoor propagation sites, laser laboratories, or other controlled test facilities.
Familiarity with laser safety standards and experience serving as, or working closely with, a laser safety officer.
Understanding of acquisition, systems engineering, test and evaluation, technology-readiness, manufacturing-readiness, and transition processes.
Experience assessing the domestic industrial base and supply-chain risks associated with lasers, precision optics, coatings, detectors, specialty materials, thermal-management systems, and related components.
Experience establishing public-private partnerships, cooperative research efforts, consortia, or collaborative government-industry test programs.
Demonstrated success developing a technical portfolio, securing new project funding, leading proposal efforts, or growing sponsor relationships.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, build consensus across organizational boundaries, and establish effective partnerships with external organizations.
Demonstrated ability to identify new work opportunities and develop technical concepts, project plans, proposals, or sponsor-funded research activities.
Experience managing technical investments, laboratory resources, equipment procurements, subcontractors, or external research performers.
Record of relevant publications, patents, invited presentations, standards development, technical leadership, or participation in professional organizations.
Understanding of high-power microwave systems.
An active U.S. TS/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead multidisciplinary teams conducting analysis, modeling, experimentation, prototyping, and systems engineering for high-power laser systems and associated technologies.
Oversee development and application of physics-based models for laser sources, beam propagation, atmospheric effects, beam control, adaptive optics, pointing and tracking, thermal management, optical performance, and system effectiveness.
Establish modeling and simulation practices that address verification, validation, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification, configuration management, and comparison with experimental or operational data.
Lead the design, integration, and operation of laboratory or field-representative testbeds to evaluate technologies, validate models, reduce technical risk, and demonstrate system concepts.
Define test objectives, performance metrics, instrumentation requirements, data-collection plans, and analysis methods for high-power laser experiments and demonstrations.
Conduct system-level analyses and trade studies addressing performance, size, weight, power, cooling, reliability, beam quality, maintainability, safety, cost, manufacturability, and operational suitability.
Assess the maturity, limitations, and mission relevance of emerging laser sources, optical components, beam directors, sensors, control systems, materials, coatings, power systems, and thermal-management technologies.
Advise government sponsors on technical strategy, investment priorities, acquisition approaches, test and evaluation, technology maturation, transition planning, and risk reduction.
Convene government and industry stakeholders to identify shared technical barriers, clarify interface requirements, develop common evaluation methods, and accelerate technology transition.
Lead or contribute to proposals, concept papers, sponsor briefings, statements of work, technical plans, independent assessments, and strategic investment recommendations.
Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for directed-energy projects, including independent review of assumptions, models, experimental methods, results, and conclusions.
Ensure laboratory and test activities comply with applicable laser-safety, electrical-safety, range-safety, environmental, security, export-control, and information-protection requirements.
Communicate technical findings to senior government leaders, acquisition professionals, operational stakeholders, engineers, and scientists.
Represent the organization at technical workshops, professional conferences, sponsor engagements, industry exchanges, publications, and other thought-leadership activities, consistent with security and release requirements.
Support exploration and pursuit of opportunities within the non-traditional sponsor space.
Collaborate with MITRE Technology and Engineering, MITRE National Security, and MITRE Public Sector leaders to align work-program growth with technical capabilities and personnel.