Laser System Architect

Role Overview

We’re looking for exceptional and top-tier talent with deep expertise High-Power Laser

& Ultrafast Optics Engineering who wants to build, break, fix, and deploy TW-class

laser systems, not just simulate them. You will own the setup, alignment,

optimization, and evolution of a high-energy ultrafast laser platform, from stretcher to

compressor, and help push it out of the lab into mobile and real-world environments.

This role is deeply hands-on and experimental. You’ll work at the intersection of

ultrafast optics, nonlinear propagation, and rugged engineering, collaborating

closely with electronics, thermal, mechanical, and controls teams.

What You’ll Work On

Ultrafast Laser System

1. Set up, align, and operate TW-class ultrafast laser systems (CPA architectures).
2. Own the full amplification chain: pulse stretcher, regenerative amplifier, pre-amps, and multi-pass amplifiers.
3. Achieve and maintain stable mode-locking, pulse shaping, and long-term performance.
4. Diagnose instabilities, nonlinear effects, and thermal drift—and fix them fast.

High-Energy Beam Alignment & Safety

1. Perform safe installation and alignment of high-energy beam paths.
2. Implement best practices for laser safety, interlocks, enclosures, and beam management.
3. Align large-aperture optics and high-fluence beams with repeatability.

Laser Filamentation & Propagation Experiments

1. Run laser filamentation experiments in controlled lab environments and open-air scenarios.
2. Study nonlinear propagation, plasma formation, and atmospheric effects.
3. Translate experimental results into design improvements and next-gen concepts.

Power Scaling & Beam Quality

1. Design and implement optical schemes for power scaling while protecting optics.
2. Improve beam quality (M2), wavefront stability, and pointing for long-range propagation.
3. Work with diagnostics (spatial, temporal, spectral) to close performance gaps.

Ruggedization & Mobile Deployment

1. Help take the laser out of the optical table mindset and into deployable hardware.
2. Support shock, vibration, and transport tolerance testing.
3. Work closely with mechanical teams to ensure alignment survives motion and environment.

Cross-Team Collaboration

1. Coordinate with electronics and firmware teams for timing, synchronization, and automation.
2. Work with thermal engineers to manage heat loads and long-term stability.
3. Feed experimental learnings directly into system-level design decisions.

What We’re Looking For

Required

1. Master's/ PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Optical Engineering, or related
2. field.
3. 5-8 years of strong hands-on experience with ultrafast laser systems (Ti: Sapphire, YAG-based, OPCPA, CPA).
4. Deep comfort with optical alignment, diagnostics, and troubleshooting.
5. Solid understanding of nonlinear optics, dispersion management, and pulse compression.
6. Willingness to work hands-on in the lab and during field tests.

Nice to Have

1. Experience with TW-class or high-energy laser systems.
2. Exposure to laser filamentation, nonlinear optics, intense laser-matter interactions, or long-range propagation.
3. Experience with ruggedized or mobile photonic systems.
4. Familiarity with automation, Python/MATLAB, or laser diagnostics software.

What We OAer

1. High ownership: you design it, build it, test it, and see it deployed.
2. Fast iteration: minimal bureaucracy, rapid CAD-to-hardware cycles.
3. Work on real, high-impact hardware, not just drawings.
4. Small, highly technical team where mechanical design directly affects system performance.
5. Clear growth path to Lead Laser Architect / System Owner roles.