Senior Electrical Engineer - Defense

$80,000 - $105,000/Yr

N'Light Agency - Camas, WA

Full-time - Mid Level

Camas, WA

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

About the position

The Senior Electrical Engineer at nLIGHT will be responsible for designing electrical subsystems for high energy laser systems, focusing on innovative technologies that meet the defense needs of the country. This role involves working on complex electronic systems under challenging conditions, ensuring compliance with military standards, and contributing to the development of cutting-edge laser technologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-performance solutions for high-power electronics and control systems for defensive laser systems.
• Design electrical subsystems that meet rigorous military standards and environmental conditions.
• Define electrical product requirements for Directed Energy team sold to government and defense agencies.
• Conduct detailed electrical design reviews and code reviews across cross-functional teams.
• Generate complete electrical design packages including schematics, cable routing diagrams, and bills of materials.
• Assemble design hardware, integrate into laser systems, and qualify through detailed testing plans.
• Research and apply international safety standards and MIL-STDs to hardware designs.
• Utilize feedback from production and customers to identify continuous improvement opportunities.

Requirements

• 5+ years' experience as an Electrical Engineer
• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or similar discipline
• Experience with power electronics, switch mode power supplies, and power systems
• Strong troubleshooting skills related to complex electro-optic systems
• Experience with schematic and layout tools, preferably Altium Designer
• Ability to manage schedule and priorities with minimal direction
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with strong communication skills.

Nice-to-haves

• LTSpice and SIMPLIS modeling for power electronic control loop optimization
• Experience designing RF PCBs
• Experience with FPGA-controlled multicomponent systems
• FPGA programming experience (VHDL preferred)
• Familiarity with conductive electronics cooling techniques
• Development experience with high-power laser and optical assemblies
• Experience managing other engineers and directing their activities
• Vendor management and procurement experience.

Benefits

• Salary based on experience, education, and skills
• Target cash bonus of 5% of wages
• Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants
• 3 weeks of Paid Time Off per year, increasing to 4 weeks
• 10 paid holidays
• Health benefits starting on the 1st day of the month after start date
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Aflac Supplemental Insurance
• Paid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance