Multi-Disciplinary Engineer I​/II

• Department / Function:
  Engineering – IPG Defense
• Reports To:
  
  Chief Engineer
• Work Location:
  
  Huntsville, AL
• Employment Type:
  
  Full-time (Exempt)
• Travel:
  Less than 10%; occasional travel to field test sites.
• Security / Clearance:
  Not required; active DoD security clearance preferred.

IPG Defense, a stand-alone business of IPG Photonics, was incorporated in 2026 to provide direct support for defense products. Headquartered in Huntsville, AL, IPG Defense is bringing commercial scale to laser defense systems, leveraging IPG Photonics’ 36 years of experience in fiber laser technology. Our mission: develop and deliver the most advanced, next-generation laser defense solutions for military and civilian use — systems that accurately and reliably detect, track, target, and neutralize threats.

IPG Photonics is the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance fiber lasers and amplifiers for diverse applications in numerous markets. Founded in 1990, IPG pioneered the development and commercialization of optical fiber-based lasers — a critical technology in our high-energy laser (HEL) systems, including the CROSSBOW program.

Your skills and experience will play a key role in shaping our growing organization, building our capabilities, and delivering on our mission. Join us and build a career that will shape the future of laser defense.

Are you a tinkerer? A hobbyist, a maker, an Arduino builder, a ham radio operator, a 3D-printing enthusiast? Do you like to design AND build — to work with your hands and bring to life the things you help design? IPG Defense is looking for a hands-on, multi-disciplinary engineer to do exactly that.

The Multi-Disciplinary Engineer works across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries to rapidly prototype, build, and test hardware for advanced directed-energy systems. One week you might be printing and machining a fixture, the next wiring and programming a sensor rig, the next writing Python to analyze test data. Level (I or II) will be determined by the candidate’s education and experience.

• Rapidly design, build, and iterate prototypes spanning mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
• Breadboard, wire, and solder electronics; build cable harnesses and simple PCBs; debug with multimeters, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
• Create 3D CAD models and use in-house 3D printers and shop tools to produce brackets, fixtures, enclosures, and test hardware.
• Develop microcontroller-based prototypes and test rigs using platforms such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, integrating sensors and actuators.
• Write Python scripts for test automation, instrument control, and data collection and analysis.
• Support laboratory integration and field testing of high-energy laser systems; troubleshoot across hardware and software boundaries.
• Document designs, test setups, and results; share findings across the engineering team.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related discipline (level I or II determined by education and experience).
• Hands‑on experience building electronics: wiring, soldering, bread boarding, and use of basic test equipment.
• Experience with 3D CAD modeling and 3D printing.
• Proficiency with Python for scripting, automation, or data analysis.
• Experience with microcontroller platforms such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi.
• A portfolio of things you have designed and built — personal, academic, or professional. Hobby and garage projects absolutely count, and we want to hear about them.
• Strong communication skills and eagerness to work across disciplines on a small, fast-moving team.

• Active DoD security…