Directed Energy Optics Engineer

Requisition Number: 28885

Required Travel: 0 - 10%

Employment Type:

Full Time/Salaried/Exempt

Anticipated Salary Range: $76,283.00 - $

Security Clearance:
Ability to Obtain

Level of

Experience:

Mid

This opportunity resides with Warfare Systems (WS), a business group within HII’s Mission Technologies division. Warfare Systems comprises cyber and mission IT; electronic warfare; and C5

ISR systems.

HII works within our nation’s intelligence and cyber operations communities to defend our interests in cyberspace and anticipate emerging threats. Our capabilities in cybersecurity, network architecture, reverse engineering, software and hardware development uniquely enable us to support sensitive missions for the U.S. military and federal agency partners.

Leadership at HII is a mindset, not a title. Through our Leadership Capability Framework, we define how every team member contributes to our mission and culture:

• Know & Grow Your People – Commit to learning and supporting team success.
• Build Relationships – Communicate openly, collaborate well, and build trust.
• Take Ownership – Deliver on commitments and take pride in your work.
• Customer First – Focus on the mission and those we serve.
• Shape the Future – Bring ideas, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
• Act with Urgency – Take initiative and follow through with purpose.

These capabilities guide how all employees contribute to our shared success across Mission Technologies.

Seeking an engineer or research scientist with expertise in directed energy systems, high-energy laser (HEL) engagement modeling, and computational simulation. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in physics, mathematics, and engineering with experience in target tracking, beam control, atmospheric modeling, and vulnerability assessment for laser weapon systems. This position combines research and development in directed energy systems with practical engineering applications in laser weapon engagement modeling and autonomous target tracking systems.

• Develop and execute simulations for high-energy laser engagement scenarios, including target acquisition, tracking, and kill‑chain assessment.
• Model atmospheric effects (turbulence, thermal blooming) and their impact on beam propagation and engagement effectiveness.
• Design and implement tracking algorithms including centroid tracking, active contour methods, and machine learning‑based detection systems.
• Conduct vulnerability modeling to analyze time‑to‑kill metrics, aim‑point selection, and power‑on‑target calculations.
• Develop simulation tools for beam control, tracking systems, and atmospheric compensation strategies.
• Analyze complex engagement scenarios across diverse conditions including variable backgrounds, clutter, and changing trajectories.
• Generate technical reports and present findings on system performance and effectiveness.
• Script and automate batch simulations to systematically evaluate engagement parameters.

2 years relevant experience with Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Math or related field; OR 0 years experience with Masters; OR High School Diploma or equivalent and 6 years relevant experience.

• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, and simulation software platforms.
• Strong understanding of quantum mechanics, wave propagation, and laser physics.
• Experience with End‑to‑End Engagement Model (ETEM) or similar directed energy simulation tools.
• Knowledge of tracking algorithms, image processing, and computer vision techniques.
• Ability to develop and validate computational models for complex physical systems.

• M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field.
• Experience with embedded systems and hardware development.
• Background in CAD tools (Solid Works, Micro Station, Abaqus) for system design and FEA analysis.
• Research experience in quantum turbulence, vortex dynamics, or Bose‑Einstein condensates.
• Familiarity with machine learning for target detection and classification.
• Understanding of vulnerability assessment methodologies for directed energy weapons.

Technical:

• Simulation & Modeling: ETEM, Abaqus, atmospheric propagation codes.
• CAD/Design:
  Solid Works,…