Aurelius Systems
Laser Systems Engineer (All Levels) (San Francisco)
Aurelius Systems, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
*** PLEASE APPLY AT https://www.aureliussystems.com/careers ***
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, 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 arent 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.
Job Description We are seeking an experienced Senior Laser Systems Engineer to architect, develop, and validate beamdelivery and targeting subsystems for our nextgeneration defense laser platforms. You will lead endtoend beamtrain design, automated aiming, and materialstesting efforts across pulsed and CW regimes, progressing from lab prototype to fielddeployed hardware.
Key Responsibilities BeamTrain Architecture & Assembly: Design and assemble the endtoend optical pathincluding coatings, mirrors, fiber/optics interfaces, and alignment fixturesto meet power and beamquality specifications. Automated Aiming & Targeting: Develop and integrate laseraiming subsystems, combining optomechanics and controlsystem hooks for precision tracking and dwell control. Ablation & DamageThreshold 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 wavelengthselection campaigns considering efficacy, safety, and supplychain constraints. CrossFunctional Collaboration: Partner with controls, mechanical, and sensor teams to synchronize beam outputs with targeting data and ensure systemlevel integration. Prototype Iteration & Field Trials: Drive rapid benchprototype builds through rangetesting cycles (dryruns, live engagements), capturing performance data to refine optical and mechanical designs. Documentation & Reporting: Produce comprehensive technical reports, optical alignment procedures, and testplan documentation; present findings to stakeholders and update design specifications accordingly.
Qualifications Hyper Engineer - your brain only releases dopamine when you're building Experience: 47 years in highpower or directedenergy laser development, opticaltrain engineering, or related fields. Deep expertise in optical design software (Zemax, Code V) and CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo). Handson experience with highpower coatings, mirror mounts, and fiberoptic interfaces. Proven track record of ablation testing and damagethreshold characterization. Familiarity with both pulsed and CW laser architectures, wavelength tradeoffs, and safety standards. Education: BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline. Soft Skills: Strong analytical mindset, collaborative communication, and problemsolving under experimental constraints.
NicetoHaves Fielddeployed 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.
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, 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 arent 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.
Job Description We are seeking an experienced Senior Laser Systems Engineer to architect, develop, and validate beamdelivery and targeting subsystems for our nextgeneration defense laser platforms. You will lead endtoend beamtrain design, automated aiming, and materialstesting efforts across pulsed and CW regimes, progressing from lab prototype to fielddeployed hardware.
Key Responsibilities BeamTrain Architecture & Assembly: Design and assemble the endtoend optical pathincluding coatings, mirrors, fiber/optics interfaces, and alignment fixturesto meet power and beamquality specifications. Automated Aiming & Targeting: Develop and integrate laseraiming subsystems, combining optomechanics and controlsystem hooks for precision tracking and dwell control. Ablation & DamageThreshold 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 wavelengthselection campaigns considering efficacy, safety, and supplychain constraints. CrossFunctional Collaboration: Partner with controls, mechanical, and sensor teams to synchronize beam outputs with targeting data and ensure systemlevel integration. Prototype Iteration & Field Trials: Drive rapid benchprototype builds through rangetesting cycles (dryruns, live engagements), capturing performance data to refine optical and mechanical designs. Documentation & Reporting: Produce comprehensive technical reports, optical alignment procedures, and testplan documentation; present findings to stakeholders and update design specifications accordingly.
Qualifications Hyper Engineer - your brain only releases dopamine when you're building Experience: 47 years in highpower or directedenergy laser development, opticaltrain engineering, or related fields. Deep expertise in optical design software (Zemax, Code V) and CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo). Handson experience with highpower coatings, mirror mounts, and fiberoptic interfaces. Proven track record of ablation testing and damagethreshold characterization. Familiarity with both pulsed and CW laser architectures, wavelength tradeoffs, and safety standards. Education: BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline. Soft Skills: Strong analytical mindset, collaborative communication, and problemsolving under experimental constraints.
NicetoHaves Fielddeployed 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.