Manager, Mechanical Engineering

nLIGHT, Inc.
paid time off, paid holidays, long term disability, tuition assistance, 401(k)
United States, Colorado, Longmont
Nov 14, 2025
Description Location:Longmont, CO (onsite) Experience:A minimum of 8+ years of experience. Minimum Education:Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering or in related field. Compensation:$140,000-$190,000 depending on experience. 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: Our Mechanical Engineering team at nLIGHT DEFENSE Systems, Inc. synchronizes all mechanical, thermal, and packaging aspects of design and integration for complex High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon systems. We are developing rugged and compact HEL weapon system solutions that can operate and survive in challenging environments. We utilize analysis driven design and implement elegant athermalized and vibration-rugged solutions. We are looking to add a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead a team of motivated Mechanical Engineers that are excited about integrating HEL weapon systems and being part of that solution. 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: Lead the team in the design, analysis, and assembly of mechanical systems from concept through final design and integration. Overseeprocurementandassemblyofengineeringbuilds,ensuringefficiencyandaccuracy. Provide mentorship and leadership to team members, fostering professional growth andknowledgesharing. Managethemechanicalengineeringteam,ensuringalignmentwithprojectgoals and schedules. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives. Required Experience / Capability: Commitment to Excellence. Attention to Detail. Pride in Workmanship. Commitmenttoexcellenceandattentiontodetail. Prideinworkmanshipanddeliveringhigh-qualityresults. Minimumof8+yearsofexperienceincomplexmechanicalsystemdesignandintegration. Minimum of 2+ years of experience managing dynamic and collaborative mechanical engineering teams. Abilitytoadapttofrequentlychangingrequirementsanddeveloprapid-turnsolutions. ProficiencyinprojectmanagementsoftwaresuchasGitLab,Jira,orsimilar. Expertiseinsystem-leveltradestudiesanddocumentingengineeringdecisions. Strong leadership in developing and guiding the creation of design solutions based on requirements and stakeholder inputs, ensuring alignment with project goals and strategic vision. Experience breaking down largescale system designs and delegating tasks to a diverse team Proficiency in SolidWorks and ability to perform hand calculations to verify design requirements Strongtroubleshootingskillsandproblem-solvingabilities. Experience in fabrication and assembly drawing preparation for manufacturing (ISO and ANSI standards), including version control and change record documentation. Expertise in design for manufacturability and assembly (DFMA), with knowledge of various manufacturing techniques (machining, sheet metal, injection molding, etc.) Additional Desired Experience / Capability: Supervisory and/or management experience in an engineering environment. Experience in rugged design for optical systems, including kinematic, flexure mounting, and adhesive mounting. Familiarity with electro-optical systems implementation and optical system alignment/test methods. Experience in opto-mechanical assembly, including component inspection, dry-assembly, and bonding. Proficiency in thermal management systems and STOP analysis (structural, thermal, optical performance). Expertise in vibration test, analysis, and isolation methods, particularly jitter analysis for opto-mechanical systems. Experience in finite element analysis (FEA) and modeling of vibration and thermal effects, including static structure, fatigue, random vibration, and modal analysis. Proficiency in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Familiarity with MATLAB and LabVIEW. Experience with Adaptive Optical (AO) Systems and/or High Energy Laser systems. Exposure to MIL-STD-810 design and/or testing. Experience operating machining, welding, or fabrication equipment. 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 Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal . If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at [emailprotected] .