nLIGHT Corp

Lead Mission Readiness Engineer

nLIGHT Corp$160K — $210K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in a relevant field
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical field
  • Ability to obtain or possess a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance
  • Advanced problem-solving skills across multiple technical disciplines
  • Experience in developmental and operational field testing
  • Strong technical writing and documentation skills

Responsibilities

  • Lead transition of capabilities from development into operational use
  • Define and continuously improve operational readiness criteria
  • Conduct field evaluations and demonstrations to validate system performance
  • Develop training programs and operational documentation for users
  • Act as the primary interface between users and engineering teams
  • Translate operational observations into actionable product requirements
  • Establish processes to link testing, training, deployment, and customer feedback

Benefits

  • 4 weeks Paid Time Off annually
  • 11 paid Holidays
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Tuition Assistance Program
  • 100% employer-paid Health, Vision, and Dental Care for employees
  • Paid Family Leave and Short/Long Term Disability covered 100% by employer
  • Competitive 401k plan with company match and immediate vesting
Full Job Description
Description

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%

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://www.dcsa.mil/mc/pv/mbi/gicp/. 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 problem-solving capability, with the ability to synthesize information from multiple technical disciplines to reach sound engineering decisions.
  • Experience planning, executing, and evaluating developmental and operational field testing in representative environments.
  • Experience integrating multidisciplinary hardware and software systems into operational capabilities while identifying and resolving technical and operational issues.
  • Strong technical writing skills, including development of training materials, operational procedures, test plans, and/or after-action reports.
  • Ability to build trusted relationships with military operators, government customers, and cross-functional engineering teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams in formal or informal leadership roles, fostering collaboration, accountability, and mission execution.
  • Ability to translate operational observations and customer feedback into actionable product improvements and system requirements.


Additional Desired Experience / Capability:
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver technical training, operational instruction, and user enablement programs.
  • Experience supporting U.S. Department of Defense programs, military operations, or defense acquisition activities.
  • Experience developing and delivering technical and operational training programs.
  • Experience with developmental test, operational test, or field experimentation activities.
  • Experience transitioning prototype or developmental systems into operational use.
  • Experience with prototype hardware/software.
  • Familiarity with systems engineering, requirements management, and product development processes.
  • Military service or direct experience supporting military operations.


Benefits Summary:
  • 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
  • 11 paid Holidays
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Tuition Assistance Program
  • Health (ACA Gold Plan), Vision and Dental Care paid by employer 100% for Employee and 75% for Dependents
  • Paid Family Leave, Short and Long Term Disability paid by employer 100%
  • Competitive 401k with company match and immediate vesting


About nLIGHT Corp

nLight is an American laser company founded in 2000 by Scott Keeney. The company is privately held and funded by venture capital firms. It has headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, and operations in Shanghai, Hillsboro, Oregon, and Lohja, Finland. nLight specializes in diode laser components and systems, fiber laser components and systems, and optical fibers. Their key markets include materials processing, consumer electronics, and medical and military applications. nLight was founded in 2000 during the telecom boom. Since its inception, nLight has grown to more than four hundred employees worldwide and has won numerous awards.[citation needed] In 2005, nLight created nConnect, an independent 501(c)(3) entity with a mission to increase student interest and achievement in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) by connecting schools to business.
Learn more about nLIGHT Corp
Size
1,300 employees
Market Cap
$440.5 million
Industry
Net Income
-$20.9 million
Founded
2000
5 Year Trend
+21.7%
Revenue
$222.7 million
NASDAQ

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