Directed Energy Laser Subject Matter Expert (SME) Engineer
Company:The Boeing Company
The Boeing Company is seeking a highly experienced Directed Energy (DE) Laser Subject Matter Expert (SME) Engineer to lead technical strategy, system design, integration, and test activities for advanced laser weapon and electro-optical systems. The ideal candidate will provide authoritative technical guidance across concept development, prototyping, fielding, and sustainment of high-energy laser (HEL) systems on aerospace, maritime, and ground platforms. This role interfaces with multidisciplinary engineering teams, program managers, government stakeholders, and external partners.
Position Responsibilities:- Serve as the technical authority for HEL system architecture, beam control, optical design, and power/thermal management throughout system lifecycle.
- Lead requirements derivation, system trade studies, risk assessments, and design reviews.
- Develop and validate models, simulations, and performance predictions for propagation, atmospheric effects, and target interaction.
- Define and direct integration and test plans, including lab demonstrations, field tests, and operational evaluations.
- Provide guidance on safety, laser hazard analysis (LHAL), and compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ANSI Z136, MIL-STD, STANAG).
- Collaborate with systems engineering, controls, optics, power electronics, thermal, and mechanical teams to ensure subsystem compatibility and system margin.
- Mentor junior engineers, set technical direction, and capture lessons learned and best practices.
- Support proposal development, technical briefs, and customer engagements; prepare technical reports and presentations.
- Maintain awareness of emerging DE technologies, countermeasures, and regulatory/policy changes.
- Represent the organization in cross-industry working groups, technical conferences, and with government customers as needed.
This position is expected to be 100% onsite. The selected candidate will be required to work onsite at one of the listed location options.Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience): - This position requires an active U.S. Top Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active)
- Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited course of study in engineering, engineering technology (includes manufacturing engineering technology), chemistry, physics, mathematics, data science, or computer science
- 20 or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education
- 10+ years of hands-on experience in directed energy or high-power laser systems development, integration, and test.
- Experience in one or more of the following: high-energy solid-state lasers, fiber lasers, chemical lasers, beam combining, adaptive optics, beam control, pointing/tracking, laser-target interaction, or laser safety.
- Experience with system-level requirements, modeling and simulation (optical propagation, thermal management, structural dynamics), and test execution in relevant environments.
- Experience with power generation/distribution, thermal control, and electro-optical system integration on airborne, naval, or ground platforms.
- Experience conducting laser hazard analyses and implementing laser safety controls and procedures.
Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience): - MS/PhD with thesis or publications in optics, lasers, or related fields.
- Prior experience with weaponization, safety certification, and operational deployment of HEL systems.
- Familiarity with MIL-STD development, DO-178/DO-254 interaction for avionics integration, and Government acquisition processes.
- Experience with high-fidelity optical/atmospheric propagation tools (e.g., MODTRAN, WaveTrain, FRED) and control-system simulation (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink).
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and mentoring early-career engineers.
- Proven problem-solving skills and ability to decompose complex system issues into actionable engineering tasks.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present technical material to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Advanced optics and photonics knowledge.
- Systems engineering and architecture skills.
- Modeling & simulation proficiency.
- Test & evaluation planning and execution.
- Laser safety and regulatory compliance.
- Effective stakeholder communication and leadership.
- Strong project and risk management capabilities.
Conflict of Interest: Successful candidates for this job must satisfy the Company's Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process.
Drug Free Workplace: Boeing is a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.
Relocation: This position offers relocation based on candidate eligibility. Note: Basic relocation will be offered for eligible internal candidates.
Pay & Benefits: At Boeing, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.
The Boeing Company also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.
The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
Summary Pay Range (Subject Matter Expert - Level 6): $197,200 - $266,800
Language Requirements:Not Applicable
Education:Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent
Relocation:This position offers relocation based on candidate eligibility.
Export Control Requirement:This is not an Export Control position.
Safety Sensitive:This is not a Safety Sensitive Position.
Security Clearance:This position requires an active U.S. Top Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active)
Visa Sponsorship:Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.
Contingent Upon Award ProgramThis position is not contingent upon program award
Shift:Shift 1 (United States of America)
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