Sr. Optomechanical Engineer, R&D

Aurelius Systems•San Francisco, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Aurelius Systems is a VC-backed defense tech startup focused on developing autonomous, edge-deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS, essentially building laser weapons to neutralize drones. The company emphasizes a culture of high output and direct impact, inspired by figures like Marcus Aurelius and Henry Ford. With facilities in San Francisco and a manufacturing hub in Detroit, they conduct weekly field tests on their private range. This senior role involves end-to-end ownership of the beam train, translating optical simulations into functional hardware, and performing detailed analyses on complex optical systems. The engineer will collaborate closely with laser, mechanical, and electrical teams, taking responsibility for all components between the laser source and the target.

Requirements

5+ years (or PhD + 3 years) in opto mechanical design with shipped hardware
Optical system design in Zemax OpticStudio
Aberration mitigation experience on long path, large aperture, broad frequency systems
Industrial laser tooling background
Hands-on optical alignment and characterization experience
Mechanical design experience in CAD (SolidWorks preferred) for opto-mechanical mounts, housings, and assemblies
Understanding of thermal and structural effects on optical performance
Familiarity with high-power laser optics and their damage thresholds, coating selection, thermal lensing
Comfortable working across mechanical, electrical, and laser teams to integrate optical subsystems
Experience designing a beam train, taking it from simulation to a working system, and performing hands-on alignment
BS or MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
Must be a "U.S. Person" (U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or certain protected classes of asylees and refugees)

Nice To Haves

Experience is entirely theoretical or software-based with no hands-on optical bench or hardware integration work.

Responsibilities

Lead beam train optical design end-to-end
Own aberration mitigation on long path, large aperture, broad frequency systems
Spec and qualify optical components (lenses, mirrors, coatings, windows) for high power laser operation
Design ruggedized opto-mechanical mounts, housings, and assemblies for field-deployed environments
Run opto-mechanical tolerance analysis and validate designs through structural and thermal modeling
Lead optical alignment, characterization, and beam quality measurement on integrated systems
Support field testing end-to-end: setup, alignment, data collection, post-test analysis, failure writeups
Work directly with fabricators and vendors on DFM, tolerancing, and production readiness
Generate optical system documentation, drawings, and BOMs meeting MIL-STD and ITAR requirements