Lead Mission Readiness Engineer

Location: Longmont

Location:

Longmont, CO (onsite)

Experience:

10+ years of experience

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical field.

Compensation: $160,000-$210,000 depending on experience.

Travel:
Project/Program-based travel required; estimated at 25%

Who We Are

nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is one of the nation's leading developers of Directed Energy systems, which is a top modernization priority of the Department of Defense. Our High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, Adaptive Optical (AO) systems, and Acquisition / Pointing / Tracking (APT) solutions are designed to overcome the most difficult challenges facing the deployment of high energy laser solutions to the United States military and our allies.

Located in Longmont, Colorado, nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is a vertically integrated business that leverages internal capabilities - from semiconductor device through target identification - to develop systems that are both high-performance and cost-effective. We continue to invest in capabilities, facilities and technology to bring leading edge HEL solutions to the warfighter. This is a great opportunity to work at a company that is on the leading edge of the HEL industry and provides a culture of excellence and commitment to delivering solutions to the warfighter and our country.

Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).

Summary:

The Mission Readiness Lead Engineer is responsible for developing and maintaining
1) an operationally ready team designed to facilitate field testing/deployment
2) a rich training plan for teaching the end user how to effectively operate and maintain HADES systems. As part of the HADES Product Line Management organization, this role serves as the critical link between operational users, and internal engineering teams to ensure that feedback from the field helps inform the HADES product line's continuous improvement.

You will build and lead the organization's Mission Readiness capability, serving as the primary interface between operational users and internal engineering teams. Through close partnership with military operators, you will ensure systems are successfully integrated into operational environments through testing, training, deployment planning, and field support. You will translate operational insight into actionable product requirements while validating that new capabilities are employable, supportable, and ready for fielding.

Your team closes the loop between customer operations and engineering by converting field experience into continuous improvements across the product line.

Success is measured by the successful transition of capabilities from development into operational use, the effectiveness of customer training and field support, the quality of operational feedback incorporated into the product roadmap, and the readiness of systems for sustained deployment.

All applicants must possess or be qualified to obtain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Preference will be given to candidates with an existing U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Further information on requirements to obtain a security clearance is available at: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Please review this information before applying.

Responsibilities:

* Operations

* Lead the transition of capabilities from development into operational use through planning, testing, validation, and fielding activities.

* Define, assess, and continuously improve operational readiness criteria, identifying technical and operational risks prior to deployment.

* Lead field evaluations, demonstrations, and customer exercises to validate system performance in representative operational environments.

* Training

* Develop training programs, operational documentation, and employment guidance that enable users to confidently operate and sustain deployed systems.

* Serve as the primary interface between operational users and internal engineering teams, building trusted relationships across the customer community.

* Support fielded systems through customer engagement, operational troubleshooting, and mission execution as required.

* Evaluation

* Capture and translate operational observations into actionable product requirements and partner with Technical Operations to mature future capabilities.

* Establish repeatable processes that connect testing, training, deployment, and customer feedback into a continuous product improvement cycle.

* Build and lead a Mission Readiness organization that fosters operational excellence, customer advocacy, and mission-focused execution.

* Management/Tasking of the Mission Readiness Group.

Required Experience / Capability:

* Commitment to Excellence. Attention to Detail. Pride in Workmanship.

* Ability to work in a dynamic environment and maintain composure and strong working relationships under pressure.

* Ability to independently plan, prioritize, and execute work with minimal oversight, meeting mid- to long-term program milestones.

* Advanced…