Laser Engineer

Citizens and permanent residents only - we do not sponsor and cannot hire non-citizens or PRs. We work 6 days a week in the office in downtown San Francisco with one Saturday off per month, no remote available. What is Aurelius Systems? Aurelius Systems is a directed energy company developing edge-deployed laser systems for cUAS applications We shoot down drones with laser guns Why? The US and our allies have prepared for a world where we will be fighting increasingly large and sophisticated systems (Planes, Aircraft carriers, etc), but this world never came. The future of warfare will involve large numbers of small-scale and mass-manufacturable drones, and we aren’t prepared to defend our country from these threats abroad or domestically. Aurelius Systems has set out to address this problem by equipping the US and our allies with the systems they need to fight current and future conflicts in a scalable and cost-effective manner. Role Overview: We are seeking an experienced Senior Laser Systems Engineer to architect, develop, and validate beam‑delivery and targeting subsystems for our next‑generation defense laser platforms. You will lead end‑to‑end beam‑train design, automated aiming, and materials‑testing efforts across pulsed and CW regimes, progressing from lab prototype to field‑deployed hardware. Key Duties and Responsibilities Beam‑Train Architecture & Assembly: Design and assemble the end‑to‑end optical path—including coatings, mirrors, fiber/optics interfaces, and alignment fixtures—to meet power and beam‑quality specifications. Automated Aiming & Targeting: Develop and integrate laser‑aiming subsystems, combining optomechanics and control‑system hooks for precision tracking and dwell control. Ablation & Damage‑Threshold Testing: Plan and execute material ablation experiments, characterize damage thresholds, and iterate on optical and mechanical designs to optimize performance and durability. Laser Trade Studies: Conduct comparative analyses of various laser operation, leading wavelength‑selection campaigns considering efficacy, safety, and supply‑chain constraints. Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with controls, mechanical, and sensor teams to synchronize beam outputs with targeting data and ensure system‑level integration. Prototype Iteration & Field Trials: Drive rapid bench‑prototype builds through range‑testing cycles (dry‑runs, live engagements), capturing performance data to refine optical and mechanical designs. Documentation & Reporting: Produce comprehensive technical reports, optical alignment procedures, and test‑plan documentation; present findings to stakeholders and update design specifications accordingly. Qualifications: Hyper Engineer - your brain only releases dopamine when you're building 4–7 years in high‑power or directed‑energy laser development, optical‑train engineering, or related fields Must be able to obtain a security clearance Technical Skills: Deep expertise in optical design software (Zemax, Code V) and CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo). Hands‑on experience with high‑power coatings, mirror mounts, and fiber‑optic interfaces. Proven track record of ablation testing and damage‑threshold characterization. Familiarity with both pulsed and CW laser architectures, wavelength trade‑offs, and safety standards. Education: BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline. Soft Skills: Strong analytical mindset, collaborative communication, and problem‑solving under experimental constraints. Nice-to-Haves: Field‑deployed laser systems experience (DoD or industrial optics). Background in optical fiber handling and splice qualification. Experience with environmental qualification testing (vibration, thermal shock). Familiarity with laser safety (ANSI Z136) and ITAR regulations. Why Join Aurelius Systems? Drive innovation in cutting-edge directed energy defense technology. Contribute directly to national security with robust and scalable hardware solutions. Build more in 12 months than most engineers do in 5 years—we field test monthly on our own 400+ acre range, executing against a $151B MDA SHIELD IDIQ contract. Grow fast: engineers here typically get promoted 1-2x per year. Erick Brito went from Founding Robotics Engineer to Lead in 12 months. Work alongside a founding team from to build what directed energy should have been. We work 6 days (yes, we'll relocate you) a week because that's what it takes to ship real hardware to real operators. If you want balance, we respect that. If you want to build—keep reading. Please submit your resume and a brief summary of your most impactful project involving relevant work to [email protected] Compensation The base pay range for this role is $130,000 – $170,000 per year.