Directed Energy Laser Subject Matter Expert (SME) Engineer

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. • E