About the Role

This is a founding-level hardware position at a defense technology company building chip-based LiDAR seeker systems for counter-UAS interceptors. As Lead Hardware Engineer, you will own the full hardware architecture of the seeker from the ground up, translating photonics simulations into a ruggedized, flight-qualifiable physical product. This role carries enormous ownership and sits at the intersection of the photonics, electrical, and systems engineering teams.

What You'll Do

Define the complete hardware architecture for the LiDAR missile seeker, including mechanical packaging, lens mounting, PCB placement, and seeker diameter.
Deliver a physical prototype and CAD model within the first 60 to 90 days to demonstrate form factor and system capabilities to customers.
Own the certification and qualification process required to mount the seeker on partner missile platforms, managing all associated compliance documentation.
Serve as the integration layer between photonics and electrical teams, packaging optical and power architectures into a high-G ruggedized system ready for flight.
Hire and lead a small hardware engineering team, setting the technical bar and mentoring hands-on prototyping work.

What We're Looking For

8 or more years of experience in hardware engineering, with a background in electro-optical, active sensing, or missile seeker systems.
Prior experience designing or integrating a seeker or payload on a missile system at a prime defense contractor or national laboratory.
Strong system architecture experience covering optomechanical design, lens mounting, PCB placement, and seeker packaging.
Demonstrated experience with missile qualification, ruggedization for high-G environments, and environmental testing standards such as MIL-STD-810 (shock, vibration, thermal).
Experience leading or hiring a small hardware engineering team.
Degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering, or physics.
Proficiency in CAD tools such as SolidWorks; broader experience with LiDAR or electro-optical systems is a strong plus.
U.S. Person status under ITAR with the ability to obtain a security clearance; no visa sponsorship is available for this role.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $180,000 to $240,000 USD annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site, 5 days per week in Hawthorne, California, United States.