Senior Software Engineer

About Applied Energetics

Applied Energetics is redefining the state of the art in ultrashort pulse laser and directed energy technologies for defense and national security applications. Guided by our vision, "Directed Energy, Anywhere", we build compact, high-performance systems that protect the warfighter and enable decisive advantages across the modern battlespace.

Why This Role Matters

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Engineer to play a key role in the design, development, testing, and integration of advanced beam directors and optical control systems with the lasers that power our next generation directed energy systems. In this role you will be part of our multidisciplinary engineering team executing our mission by pioneering scalable ultrashort pulse directed energy solutions that defend and secure our nation's future.

What You'll Do

• Lead the development of advanced machine vision, robotic control, and artificially intelligent subsystems that power our directed energy platforms.
• Serve as the senior technical authority for software architecture development, integration, and testing across all platforms.
• Develop and lead a growing team responsible for designing, implementing, and validating the software solutions that enable our next generation directed energy platforms.
• Lead software development to control next-generation ultrashort pulse laser and beam director systems.
• Develop and optimize real-time algorithms for targeting, tracking, and beam stabilization using multi-sensor data acquisition.
• Implement machine vision systems using classical image processing techniques and advanced deep learning networks.
• Develop robust control software for robotic and mechatronic actuators that power precision optical motion systems and beam directors.
• Design software and architectures to provide laser safety and interlock functionality in directed energy systems.
• Work within the engineering team to establish successful system prototype design, development, and operation, and facilitate field testing, and customer demonstrations.
• Develop and maintain secure software revision control, configuration management, and document control systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years' experience in software engineering, or closely related disciplines.
• A deep understanding and strong background in software development and software architecture design and deployment, especially for complex hardware-intensive systems.
• Deep technical understanding of embedded systems, machine vision, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and real-time control architectures.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute in a multidisciplinary environment collaborating closely with electrical, mechanical, and optical engineers.
• Extensive experience leading software development, testing, and validation programs.
• S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing software for laser systems or other precision optical instruments.
• Experience working in DoD or aerospace systems development environments.

Your Toolkit

• Experience using software and tools for machine vision, and image processing such as OpenCV, Halcon, MATLAB, etc.
• Experience using software and tools for machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithm development such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, etc.
• Experience developing software for embedded systems and real-time control using C/C++, VxWorks, etc.
• Experience with high-performance and parallel computing using tools such as MPI, CUDA, OpenMP, etc.
• Innovative thinking with solid analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced engineering environment with evolving requirements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to translate and explain complex ideas to non-experts.
• The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical, optical, and systems engineers.
• Demonstrate AE's core values of Trust, Innovation, Quality, Agility, and Bold Leadership.

Why Join Applied Energetics?

• Work on breakthrough directed energy systems at the frontier of defense innovation.
• Help shape next-generation beam directors and optical architectures for critical DoD missions.
• Collaborate with a world-class team pushing the limits of laser science and engineering.
• Competitive salary, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits including Medical, Dental, and Vision, PTO, Federal Holidays, Personal Holidays, Tuition/Loan Reimbursement and others.

How to Apply

Please apply on our company website Job Listings - Applied Energetics, Inc Jobs

Applied Energetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination.

We comply with all applicable federal and state employment laws prohibiting discrimination and will administer all personnel actions in a nondiscriminatory manner.